Feeding and Nutrition :: Calcium Problem

[squisplash]

i dont have anything for my turtles(calcium) besides cuttlebone and it's been in there for 1 month now and they still haven't eatten it...
any suggestions on how i can try to make them eat it?

[octpusgirl8]

It took my turtle a long time before he would try his cuttlebone. Ever since he tried it though he eats it like a champ. Before he was eating it i would dust a cricket (the kind that comes in a can) with calcium powder and give it to him every week or so. You could try shaving the cuttlebone and dusting it on a sticky food that he eats.

[BullDog]

Did you put in a whole bone? Or just chunks?
I usually do mine in "head size" chunks. And it get's nibbled away at as needed. I throw in a fresh chunk whenever the old one disapears.
It could also be that you have picky turts like my Ralph. He won't eat the cuttlebone once it has sunk. If the cuttlebone has sunk, try drying it out for a day, and then putting it back. Maybe that'll peak their interest.

You could also try soaking a chunk in tuna water, and then it would smell yummy to them.

[Cramer]

They do make flavored cuttlebone for birds with the same deposition. I've seen fruity red ones, that might be more enticing.

[marisa]

What size pieces do you put in the tank? For smaller turtles, I cut the pieces small and thinnish, so they'll crunch up easily. You could smear the scent of something they like on the pieces so they're be more attractive to your turtles.

If your turtles eat veggies, leafy greens like dandelions have a good calcium/phosphorus ratio.

[FLhaven4strays]

Most of mine aren't interested in nipping at a large chunk, but will readily eat
small, bite sized pieces. You could also dust the pellets in calcium powder.