Other Turtle Discussion :: Eating scutes?

Non-care related topics here.

Post Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 9:17 pm   Re: Eating scutes?

Well he looks better now, I think. Thanks guys.
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Kingbird44
 
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Location: Northeast USA
Gender: Female

Post Posted: Sun May 28, 2017 10:59 pm   Re: Eating scutes?

In recent months, Hurricane has developed a habit of trying to eat scutes. She'll bite off tiny pieces and spit them out, which makes cleaning them out of the tank a real pain. What's kind of funny but also morbid is she only goes after the scutes of her tank-mate/half sister, Typhoon, which is technically cannibalism, although she doesn't fully ingest the scutes. So yes, turtles do go after scutes (though my other two have the sense not to do that).

I attribute this to a desire for calcium. Any time I see my turtles trying to nibble on rocks, shells, or scutes like Hurricane does, then I know they are craving some calcium. We feed them a calcium rich diet, but sometimes they'll still need a supplement, so I get them some cuttlebone to munch on. (I also like to grind up the cuttlebone into a fine powder and dust it on the blueberries and/or strawberries we give them, which also does the trick).
Spike - Egyptian mau mix, 8 years old
Phryne - Japanese bobtail, 9 months old
Hurricane - RES, 8 yo, 6 1/2 in. long
Typhoon - RES/Map hybrid, 8 yo, 7 in. long
Sadie - RES, 20 yo, 10 in. long
Sophie - Colombian red tail boa, 5 yo, 5 ft. long
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theartbook35
 
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Location: Connecticut, US

Post Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 10:35 am   Re: Eating scutes?

Scutes are primarily made of keratin (a protein), not calcium.
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steve
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Post Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 1:21 am   Re: Eating scutes?

steve wrote:Scutes are primarily made of keratin (a protein), not calcium.


I should have been clearer because I already knew that. I attribute RES and other sliders biting any hard object, such as rocks, filters, tank decor, scutes even, as a desire for calcium. That's what I meant.
Spike - Egyptian mau mix, 8 years old
Phryne - Japanese bobtail, 9 months old
Hurricane - RES, 8 yo, 6 1/2 in. long
Typhoon - RES/Map hybrid, 8 yo, 7 in. long
Sadie - RES, 20 yo, 10 in. long
Sophie - Colombian red tail boa, 5 yo, 5 ft. long
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theartbook35
 
Posts: 2422
Joined: Mar 25, 2009
Location: Connecticut, US

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