Feeding and Nutrition :: Question about cuttle bone

[Billy Black]

Billy, can you dig your fingernails into it? Since I haven't used it, I don't know if it has the hard backing that most cuttlebone have. It shouldn't have it but I just want to make sure...

No, I can't dig my fingernails into the hard side. But I managed to break off a piece without too much difficulty. I put that piece in the tank. Should I take it out, since it has the backing on it?

[flutterby]

You need to take the backing off of it before you put it into the tank and what they mean about using your fingernail to take the backing off is put it on the edge where the backing and the soft part meet and pull them apart to removed them just like you would a knife.

[Billy Black]

Oh ok. I managed to peel off the hard layer with my fingernail.

I also just noticed that my turtle didn't mind me reaching down right next to him to pick it up while he was basking. He doesn't seem afraid of me at all, but is terrified of noises and shadows.

[Shavannah]

It's just his natural instinct of predators. Once he realizes you are where the food comes from, he won't be so scared of you. It sometimes takes a while. Just be patient.
If pieces of his food fall between the rocks, he'll find them. They like to dig around in them looking for scraps. Clean out uneaten food the next feeding, if you're going to feed him in his tank. Give him a few small pieces of cuttlebone a day, add more after they're eaten or if they've been in there a couple of days uneaten.
Make sure you wash your hands before and after touching your turtle or his tank.

[stray_647]

This is slightly off subject, my two baby turts love to eat cuttle bone. I put in about a quarter of the regular size cuttle bone that you get in stores, and it's almost totally gone in a few days. I guess this is normal right?

[flutterby]

Thats normal, mine would go through a whole one in less than a week.

[frioverte]

wait, do they eat chunks of it? or does it have to be like powder? my turtle needs calcium.

Do you have another turtle? I know you just lost one...again I'm sorry.
I thought you just had the one.

thanks shavannah may frio r.i.p. yes, my roomate has a baby RES too. but i did get another one, he's not making it either unfortunately. anways, i found the culprit (i think he & frio ate rocks that i thot were too large to eat) but i will clear out their tank & try again..

[Shavannah]

Your welcome, frioverte. I'm sorry to hear turt number 2 isn't doing well either.

[tissigirl]

I know most people put chunks of it in the tank for their turtles, but my turtle will have nothing to do with it that way. He bit at the chunk once, realized it was not food, and never touched it again. LOL I have to sprinkle it on his food.

[CountryGirl68]

My turtle did the same thing as yours the first time I gave him cuttlebone. I now cut it into small bite size pieces and let them float in the tank. When he doesn't get anything else to eat, he gobbles them up. Usually, it only lasts about 15 minutes in the tank.