Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 10:51 pm several 'holes' in my Salsa's plastron
Hi, I have a 6-7" male I aquired from Petco about a year ago. He is in a 50 gallon tank (78-80 degrees) with a larger female and a little squirt, that I think is another female. These were primarily cared for by my daughter who just married and left them with me. I clean the tank weekly,the tank has a pump filter. I feed them ReptoMin pellets, and monthly feeder fish or crickets, and the occasional veggie or fruit. There are two floating docks, and a lamp on them. It is a regular floodlight lamp, not a UVA or UVB. Salsa basks often, eats well, is in otherwise great appearance and health. While taking them each out and looking them over tonight, I noticed that he has 4-5 spots on his plastron. Initially they looked like abrasions, or scrapes. When I looked closer they actually seem to be holes. The rest of the plastron is not soft, is in good shape. Could this be a vitamin deficiency? Perhaps calcium? I do have an excellent vet here in town that caters to reptiles. He also charges a fortune. I would like the opportunity to try and treat Salasa first before hauling him to the doc. Could he need a different light, and additional calcium to the food sticks, which have calcium and vit C? Thanks so much, Julie in Lodi