Some torts (Red-foots, at least) seem susceptible to a form of plastron rot that seems similar to 'immersion foot'. When in contact with too wet of a surface for too long, the keratin on the scutes seems to soften and slough or scrape off.
There is rarely any sign of other causes- no pitting, growths, or other signs or fungi or bacteria. It generally stops when the substrate is dried or drained, and the damage seems to heal up (but not go away) pretty quickly.
I got it when I was using sphagnum moss (kept too wet to try to deal with very dry indoor conditions- my fault) and coconut coir (too wet to start with, dried very slowly, dang it). But, I have not seen it in torts nestled down in garden mud or in my mixed soil 'bioactive substrate'.
My question is: Is the type of substrate part of the problem? Specifically- do more acidic substrates contribute to the problem, possibly by making a more acidic liquid that affects the keratin more aggressively?
Have YOU seen this sort of problem? What sort of tortoise, and what substrate if you have.
What do you think about the idea overall, and if you think there is merit, how do we use this to help the torts?
There is rarely any sign of other causes- no pitting, growths, or other signs or fungi or bacteria. It generally stops when the substrate is dried or drained, and the damage seems to heal up (but not go away) pretty quickly.
I got it when I was using sphagnum moss (kept too wet to try to deal with very dry indoor conditions- my fault) and coconut coir (too wet to start with, dried very slowly, dang it). But, I have not seen it in torts nestled down in garden mud or in my mixed soil 'bioactive substrate'.
My question is: Is the type of substrate part of the problem? Specifically- do more acidic substrates contribute to the problem, possibly by making a more acidic liquid that affects the keratin more aggressively?
Have YOU seen this sort of problem? What sort of tortoise, and what substrate if you have.
What do you think about the idea overall, and if you think there is merit, how do we use this to help the torts?