Feeding and Nutrition :: Calcium

[d0eb0y]

Seeing how my RES Norman wants NOTHING to do wit cuttlebone is there another supplement someone can suggest so i know he is getting his calcium? Every time i put some cuttlebone in his tank it just sits there dissolving. I even tried using a holder to make it a lil easier for him to gnaw on but he dont even look at it no more.
Thank you in advance.

[flutterby]

If it dissolves in the tank, then there's calcium in his water. When his body needs/craves it, then he'll start eating it. I believe there is also calcium in the pellets, just not a good amount.

[SpotsMama]

I don't think cuttlebone dissolves. It just sits on the bottom of the tank getting slimier and slimier. That's been my experience. When Spot was outside in a pond last year I sometimes left pieces in there and they'd be in there until I drained the water and cleaned the pond - sometimes a long time.

You can also get calcium supplement in powder form. Here's one. There are lots more. You roll the food in the powder then feed it to the turtle.

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_ ... e=2#detail

[d0eb0y]

Great thanks for the replies. The cuttlebone i got dont seem to dissolve either. it just floats around the tank for days until i clean it or just decide to take it out. When i was at petco/petsmart last week i remember seeing some flavored cuttlebone i believe it was. Bananna flavor maybe? Or maybe it was scented i forget now. But if it was flavored would that be something i could use? Maybe he would eat the flavored? Or even the scented one? Or could that may be something toxic for him?
I was also thinking about soaking his pellets in milk. But this powder stuff seems good also. Ill just roll his fruits,veggies and other foods in it and see how he takes it. Thanks again for the quick replies.

[CountryGirl68]

Don't use the flavored cuttlebone. Best to stick with the natural one. Or get the calcium powder.

[d0eb0y]

ty thats what ill do.

[industrial_girl_2000]

My Sheba doesn't like cuttlebone either so what I started doing recently is crushing it up into a powder & mixing it in with something mushy like sweet potato & feeding the mixture to her with a spoon. Whenever she gets a treat lately (like a raspberry), I stuff the open area of the raspberry with the crushed cuttlebone before giving it to her.

In the past I have also allowed a calcium water neutralizer block dissolve in her water so every time she takes a drink she gets calcium, but I am trying to get away from doing that because too much of this can stain the shell white. My New Year's resolution this year is to help Sheba's shell LOOK prettier by trying to feed her the calcium with her food!

[BullDog]

Tricky Kristin! I bet she doesn't even know it's good for her when she's getting a treat!

I find Ralph goes through phases, when he feels like eating it or not... I recently scooped out two older pieces of cuttlebone, set them aside to dry and put in a fresh piece, and he's been nibbling at the new one. I put one of the old ones in (because once dry, it floats again) and it was all gone the next day xD

[industrial_girl_2000]

Tricky Kristin! I bet she doesn't even know it's good for her when she's getting a treat!

I find Ralph goes through phases, when he feels like eating it or not... I recently scooped out two older pieces of cuttlebone, set them aside to dry and put in a fresh piece, and he's been nibbling at the new one. I put one of the old ones in (because once dry, it floats again) and it was all gone the next day xD

Thanks! I am going to keep trying the cuttlebone as time goes on & hopefully eventually Sheba will eat it. Many people on the board have a lot of success with cuttle so it must work well.