Feeding and Nutrition :: Cuttlebone

[countrygal_cc]

I was wondering if I can give my red ear slider a small piece of a cuttlebone that I have for my two cockatiel birds. I have an extra
one and I was wondering if it would be ok to break off a small piece.
Misty

[bri456789]

i sopose but make sue no sharp edges or big pecies and i would watch them eat it but if you dont think its a good idea then i wouldnt but i would be careful is you do

[flutterby]

Just make sure you take the hard backing off of it and they'll be fine. Most of us give them that for calcium.

[Muirner]

What is cuttlebone? I thought i saw it today in the petstore but i wasnt sure... any pictures?

[marisa]

There are a number of threads on this topic if you look/do a search. It's the soft interior bone of the cuttlefish (similar to squid). It's found in the bird section and is a good supplemental source of calcium for your turtle. I take off the hard backing a keep several head-size pieces floating in my turtles' tanks. They eat it when they feel like it.

[WeirdMeta]

What is the hard backing?

[flutterby]

If you've bought it before, you would know what the hard backing is.

[WeirdMeta]

Oh, well I guess I better go buy some then to find out lol.

[BullDog]

The hard backing is kind of like a shell on one side. When you buy it, you'll be able to scratch one side of the cuttlebone with your fingernail, but not the other side. The hard side is the side you want to "peel" off (it's a couple mm thick)

[JNZBCBnLIL]

when i got my cuttlebone there was no hard backing?- I was able to break pieces off, no problem, and when I scratched each side I was able to- I hope I just didn't realize something and have been giving him half cuttlebone/half hard backing O_o he seems to enjoy his cuttlebone alot though!!

[marisa]

If the piece has hard backing, you'd know it. You can dig your nail into the soft side (it's like chalk), but the other side has a crust on it.