General Care Discussion :: so i did a plastron exam today...

[pumpkinsherbet]

and aeryn's got a bit of a soft spot. not spongy soft, but there is some flexing. i don't have a uvb lamp yet, so i just take them in the sun for a little bit. she eats well. what do i do?

[grey goose]

If he's a baby, its not a problem. Make sure he's getting plenty of calcium in his diet (cuttlebone). Is it a different color than the surrounding area? Have you got a pic you could post? Depending on where you are, I wouldn't take him outside if the temps are below 75F.

[pumpkinsherbet]

i've got pix of both their plastrons, though my phone is sensitive to lighting so they came out orangeish.



i don't see any discolouration on either of them either, no. not on either side. they're both very active, lovin' their new home. i put a bit of cuttle bone in the tank and now it's all gone, so i assume they ate it.

[grey goose]

Good. When they are that small, their shells are still a little soft. Keep giving them cuttle bone (remove the hard backing), try to maintain a few bite sized pieces floating around every day.

[Hoooneylynn]

Are you saying you dont have a basking area, a heat uva lamp or a uvb lamp? I would recommend getting them asap.... going out in the sun for a little bit doesnt cut it. Your turt needs an area to haul out completely and bask to dry out their shells, to prevent bone disease/ shell rot that causes soft spots, and the uvb to process calcium...

[grey goose]

Oh yes! I'm assuming you have a basking area and heat lamp.....

[Hoooneylynn]

She says "I dont have a uvb lamp yet, so I take them out in the sun" Im taking that as she doesnt have a heat lamp or a uvb lamp, or know the difference between them.

[pumpkinsherbet]

they have a basking area with a uva lamp, with carefully monitored temps. i take them out in the sun for the uvb because unfortunately the uvb bulb is out of my budget right now. but yes, they have a good basking place as well as good hiding places. i actually have a few really cute pix of john basking in the photo gallery. i do know the difference between uva and uvb and i'm trying to make sure they get both any way they can.

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewt ... 4869#64869

[cam722]

Actually, it's better to have them get direct full sunlight than having a UVB bulb. As the main site says:

With a few hours of sunlight a week, it may not be necessary to have a dedicated UVB light, although a UVA basking lamp is still required.