Feeding and Nutrition :: No cuttle bone?

[tobyandmandi]

My 4 year old RES doesn't seem to interested in the cuttle bone pieces that I drop into her tank. Is cuttle bone essential in her diet, and if so, what can I do to get her to eat it?

[marisa]

It's not absolutely essential, but it is a good secondary source of calcium and it's really good if a turtle will eat it.

What kind of pieces do you drop in the tank? How big are they? My turts are more apt to nibble on them if they're on the thin side (easy to break) and if they're not that large (no bigger than head size).

What other foods do you feed your turtle. If your turtle already has enough calcium in her diet, she may not feel the need to eat cuttlebone. The good think about the stuff, though, is that it can just stay in the tank and be nibbled on as needed. You could also try getting the scent of something smelly she likes on a piece and see if that doesn't make it more attractive to her.

[joeybsmooth]

What are some other good ways of getting calcium in the turtles diet ?

[tobyandmandi]

The pieces weren't bigger then her head, that I can remember anyway. I'll make em a little smaller next time. Her diet is mainly Reptomin pellets, with the occasional worm, there are also rosy reds in the tank but she only ate one within the last week.

[Fuzzy Hamster]

You should consider adding more veggies to her diet. The recommended ones on the plant list tend to be good sources of calcium. Take a look at the list here;
http://www.redearslider.com/plants.html

There is a list of alternative calcium supplements here;
http://www.redearslider.com/supplements.html

[SpotsMama]

My turtle prefers his cuttlebone in a veggie clip attached to the side of his tank> Makes it easier for him to bite.