Hard Water Buildup

Hard water buildup may seem like a silly thing to be addressing in the Health section of a turtle care guide, but we’re not talking about how to keep your glass clear — we’re talking about hard water deposits accumulating on your turtle’s shell. These can be a problem because they can be unsightly, and more importantly, they can interfere with efficient UVB absorption.

Note: Retained or shedding scutes seem to attract hard water buildup more than normal scutes.

Symptoms

  • White mineral deposits on shell

Cause

  • Hard water

Treatment

You can combat hard water deposits by softening the water by putting a pouch of peat moss in your filter and/or performing weekly shell brushing.

If the water in your area is naturally soft or if you use a water softener in your home, then you are likely not to have problem with mineral deposits.


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