Habitat - Indoor :: Calcium for the turtles (RES)

[barngoddess]

Hi--new here and wanted to ask a question about calcium. I bought the turtle looking thing and put what I thought of it to be suitable for my tank, but I have read in different places that a cuttlebone will work better for the res. How much of that do you put in tanks? And do you just drop it in and let it rest on bottom or what? My res, Squirt, is 1 3/4" long from curve to curve and seems to be loving his home. This is my first one and I adore him already. I want to do whatever I can to make his life grande so I try and decorate his tank different each time I clean the tank. Also, is it possible to bathe a res and how?
Thanks for any info--I appreciate everything!!!

[Spookster]

Don't waste your money on those turtle shaped things. Just go to the pet store and buy some cuttlebone. Remove the hard backing and put it in the tank. Your turtle will munch on it from time to time. Just put one piece in at a time. I usually put in one whole piece about twice a month but my res is a full grown adult female so she eats alot more than yours. In your case you will probably want to just break off a few pieces of a larger cuttlebone and make sure it is small enough that he can bite into it.

As for cleaning your turtle you can take a toothbrush and clean him off when you do your tank cleanings.

Also RES like to decorate their own tanks. Mine gets mad when I rearrange things and promptly goes to redecorating it after I put her back in. I move her river rocks and plants around during the tank cleanings and she likes them in particular spots.

[barngoddess]

Thanks---I noticed that my turtle has seemed rather irked about a plant I put in the usual corner he gets into to dig a spot he likes to stand in, so your info helps in realizing he really does have a personality (ha). If I do well with this res I plan to get more and maybe even try outdoor habitats and bring them in when weather is cooler. I bought cuttlebones today so I will definately use this info you gave. I can't thank you enough!!! I hope to take some pics this weekend and post them on here to show him off--he is too cool!!! Thanks again Spookster, I truly appreciate this info!!!

[missibsu]

Breaking it into head size pieces will help your res eat the cuttlebone. Also make sure you are providing a balanced diet with veggies.

Be sure you give some serious thought to owning more than one res. Check habitat requirements and all of the information before making any more purchases. New res should be quarantined for at least 90 days before moving them to an established tank. So even if they are healthy, they will need their own set up before they can be moved. Just be sure you know what you are getting into : )

[barngoddess]

Thanks Missibsu--I was just fixing to put the cuttlebone in the tank so this is great info to have too.

I know it's serious to have more than one...I have lots of animals around here and love them all--I have 4 horses, 2 dogs (currently), 1 res, chickens, rooster, goats and more odds and ends...I live on a ranch and love taking care of them. However, this res is new to me and I hope to learn all I can about them. We have lots of wild ones here in our lake, but I've never done anything with them...they live a great life already and seem to enjoy it. I don't want to set Squirt free in the wild since he has never lived that way, so that's why I'm trying to make him a happy home in his tank--I just love him already!!! Thank for your help Missibsu and please send me any and all tips you have or think of. I appreciate them all!!!

[missibsu]

I used to want horses...that's when I was about 10. I had no idea what I would be getting into, and thankfully I had parents who did, lol. I've had a range of pets over the years too. My beloved hedgehog passes away while I was in college. Then there are the more general dogs and cats...

I can't think of any specific tips right now, but if you have any specific questions, I'll do what I can to answer them, as will anyone else on this site. Isn't it wonderful?!

[barngoddess]

This site is great--I have actually gone to pet stores now and had cool questions to ask...like i know 'SOMETHIN"--lol

I love my horses and yes, they are a LOT Of work--some I can't do, like ferrier work (their hooves) so I get a man to come out and do that stuff, but I have to rope them for him which can be hard at times with one of them. I love them though and wouldn't know what to do without them. They are hard at times to deal with for worming or medicines, but my husband is a pro at that so he helps a lot!!

Chickens are fairly easy to deal with but my rooster can be a bit mean at times--I never turn my back on him, he gets a little assy. I don't deal with the goats too much--my husband handles all that--we've had sheep, a burro and a cow before too, but their gone now--too much to deal with at times when you get so many.

I will definately thin kof more questions soon, so watch for me--lol Just trying to do the best I can for our little Squirt--he belongs to my daughter, but she's 4 and I won't let her do anything but watch him, feed him and scrub her hands to death--lol

If I can ever figure out how to post pictures I will do it soon--thanks again for everything--

[CApears4u2]

Breaking it into head size pieces will help your res eat the cuttlebone. Also make sure you are providing a balanced diet with veggies.

I cut the cuttlebone into those little pieces and my baby RESers ignore them as though they are just other pieces of rock. I think they don't have a clue they can/should eat them. Any suggestions?

I am using the calcium powder on their food. They seem to be getting some of that.



P4U2

[sonyj]

Koopa used to be the same way until I started dropping them in along with the pellets. He'd eat the pellets and then go right to the cuttlebone. It's worked ever since.

[CApears4u2]

Cool!
Thanks again Sonja. You've been so helpful. I'm going to try to upload some pictures of my Big Guy & Little Guy. Will post in the General Care Section under "One growing..." -

Kids and everyone is home so may be a while and I'm also still learning about my camera! Gads the book is so thick!

P4U2

[marisa]

If you make the pieces small and thin (I cut them into small rectangles), so they break easily it might help. You could also briefly toss the pieces into some tuna, sardine juice to get a little fishy smell on the pieces to make them more attractive to eat.

[samandnelly]

Hey, I actually keep a horse, too. What sort of horses do you have?

[ellarn]

My turtle won't touch the calcium cuttlebone either -- until I started putting it in the middle of chunks of broccoli, chicken or shrimp. Now I get no complaints and she gets her calcium. It's soft so it blends in well.

Ella

[Turtleboy]

if they don't eat it.. and u leave it in there will they still get calcium?