Salt around Scales - Does anyone know what causes it?

[susi-lou]

Hi there,

I am another Aussie from Melbourne Victoria. I am the proud surrogate mum of Mindy a Standard Eastern (7yo) and Mork a Blotched (3yo) BTS. I am a new BTS owner and have fallen in love! Over the past 7 months I have been slowly learning what to do to keep the critters happy and healthy - this website was shown to me by my Vet when they went for a "physical" and a tank analysis. He was great.

I only just found this forum and registered - it great to know there is such a great community of Blue Tongued Lizard Lovers.

Recently my blotched BTS Mork has been getting a little powdery stuff around the scales on his/her nose and eye region (I was worried he had developed a bad habit....). It brushes off if you touch it. Tonight I ventured to taste it and it is salt (or some other salty powder).

Does anyone know what this is caused by or if it is something that needs to be addressed? My only guess is dehydration.......

Thanks Susi-lou

[Tigergenesis]

Could it be from the substrate? What substrate are you using?

[thesilverbeast]

it could be an indication of mites? are the scales lifted around those regions?

[susi-lou]

I have newspaper in the tank amd the scales are not lifting?

reading the other threads and information I thought I would try the harry's kitty litter - mainly so they could dig.

[susi-lou]

Thanks for the welcome Blue Bayou

[susi-lou]

oops! i mean tigergenesis....

[Lisa]

I would've said dust from the substrate straight up, but if it tastes salty, then I've not heard of that, or seen that written anywhere. That's a stumper.

Dr Harry's, shredded paper, Breeder's Choice, even leaf litter from outside will always leave a bit of dust and it will settle at the bottom, but since Harry & BC are made from recycled phone books, I can't see how that would be salty.

How bizarre. I guess it could be mites, but I've never experienced them so couldn't elaborate, and if your blueys haven't been in contact with others or anywhere they could get mites from then how would they get them?

hmmm, I still think it's just dust, and your blueys just have a distinctive flavour! Mine taste like chocolate

Welcome!

[Tigergenesis]

oops! i mean tigergenesis....

[Blotch]

Hey Susi!

Welcome aboard!

I have no Idea what the 'Salty' powder could be - unless your bluey has a meth anphetamine problem - and even then it's more vinegerish.

Sorry, I'm quite the moron. Just out of curiosity - where in melbourne are you situated? Reason i ask, I am still yet to find a vet that is any good with herps other than melbourne zoo or healsville sancutuary - and they are too far away. I'm in Frankston (actually langwarrin).

[Leigh]

What do you feed ,could be excess from that, not sure they produce salt like our sweat, wait for the experts they may have a reason . OH welcome and as always....... where's the pics, posts a million photos then they'll be analysed,hee hee

[susi-lou]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your support in trying to work out the salty question. It is awesome to feel so supported with my BTS questions - when I tell these things to well meaning friends that care in general but are not Bluey Lovers they tend to just go "Oh ..... anyway how about this rain..."

To answer some of the questions and clarify some things....:
- I was being a bit of a lala brain and forgot about the fact that I actually have some breeders choice kitty litter in a shoe box lid - Mork (who has the salty nose) loved digging around in it in the past and I found it really messy so I left him with a special box if it - though over recent weeks he has not been digging in it.
- I do also have some plain tree dried autumn leaves in the tank. They have loved rustling around in them. But i just tasted the scale crusty again and it is a bitter salty taste - but not exactly salt - but it is not dust - though I have not tried licking the mantle yet - maybe dust is salty!
- Coming into winter they have been off their food a bit though Mork is a bit over weight and has been having the odd munch - Very fussy - off veges unless mashed in with chicken cat food - Mork has recently eaten carrot and chicken, broccoli and chicken and a couple of snails.
- The temp gradient in the tank is 24 - 29'C in the night time and 26 - 31/32'C in the day. Am planning to try those Spotone light globes that the Aussie folk mentioned in the other threads to boost the temps a bit. Will it bother them to have bright light at night - it has a thermostat that will turn the on - i have been sticking to the coloured or reptile globes to let them get their beauty sleep.
- To Blotch vet details below, I know it is a little way for you but worth it. I live in Kensington so not a major hike for me.

Dr Peter Cameron
Veterinary Surgeons
221 Millers Rd
Altona North, VIC, 3025
Australia

Contact Details
Ph: (03) 9391 5837
Fax: (03) 9399 2046

- Much to his disgust I have taken some macro photos of Mork's nose and the tank in general. Hopefully after sending this post I will be able to work out how to load them.....
- If I can't work it out soon I will pop to see the Vet again and see what he says.
- PS are they meant to have their own individual tanks?
Thanks again.
Cheerio Susi

[Leigh]

Safer if housed seperately, no chance of missing toes or tail tip, or worse...

[susi-lou]

Thanks Leigh,

Unfortunately I gave away my second enclosure - I might see if I can reclaim it - my friend has not acquired a lizard friend yet....
I added a photo of them climbing over each other - they seem to get on really well and will appear to "hang" out together in the enclosure and clamour over each other comfortably - see my pics (ps: the together pic is from before I worked out that their nails needed clipping )

I have seen Mindy run away really quickly once (which was odd) when I put the food in as Mork started to devour it......


I put a tank pic up in my album: It's bit daunting to put up my tank for inspection by such an experienced crew but I would rather be critiqued and fix things than protect myself from criticism and have them suffer.....

Mindy is 7 and apparently Mork was introduced to the tank as a baby and is now 3.

Will see what I can do to separate them. I hope they don't miss each other.
Cheerio Susi

[NomadOfTheHills]

They won't miss each other


What size is your tank? Bright light at night probably would not be a good idea. Basically, do not worry about your night temps, they can handle almost anything.

Ideally, your temps should go from about 35-40 at one end, to 25-28 on the opposite end.


How do you currently heat your tank?

[Blotch]

wow you keep it warm at night!!! I turn all my lights off - no heat at night.

Thanks for those details - My g/f used to work in kensington. so she should know that area better than I.

Oh Also - I house mine together

I have 3 in one 4ft tank, 2 in another 4ft tank, 1 in a 2ft tank, another 1 in a 2ft tank, another in a 2ft rubbermaid tub, and 2 in a 3ft enclosure.

Only lost nails on some of their feet and I figure it's due to them being too long or something - they dont fight - there's never any scuff marks on any of them.

[Blotch]

I just checked out your pics, chould it be some sort of fungal infection or something to that effect? have you tried cleaning it off with a toothbrush and quarrantining him? I'd be doing that - cuz there is quite a bit on there.

I have 7 blotchies and 3 easterns and i've never seen this - so I'd be bathing him and seperating them just for mindys safety. You're game tasting it btw!

[Lisa]

hmm, I guess it could be fungal but I still think it might just be substrate dust.
My shingle gets that the closer he gets to shedding because his scales are so much deeper and bumpier than my blueys. You can see it in these photos:



I use Dr Harrys cat litter now, but used to use shredded paper and he got it then too. The others, because they are much smoother, well they get a little dusty but it comes off much easier.

Most, if not all people on here will recommend that you house your blueys separately, but housing two or more together is acceptable practice here in Aus. Two in a 4x2 tank is quite common if you look on aussie reptile forums.

I prefer safe than sorry, and in the wild they are solitary animals, so mine are all housed separately. When they are outside they wander together but, if they want to.

[Lucifer_Spades]

do you use mineral powder? I use Some with quigs when he gets live food and if it gets on his scales it settles in the cracks like that and it deffinatly has a salty taste.

[thesilverbeast]

Whats this about melbourne zoo? can we just go there and see the reptile vet?

[Blotch]

not sure about that - but they are more than willing to help out with any enquiries - after all the welfare of animals is their job! for reptiles youhave to call between 4 - 4:30pm though - nice hours huh?