Feeding and Nutrition :: i feel dumb asking, but..

[xsavingsaturdayx]

how exactly do you peel off the hard backing on cuttlebone,i cant figure it out...

[cprcheetah]

My hubby just takes a butter knife and just scrapes it off.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

you just cant give them the sharp parts,right?

[cprcheetah]

As far as I know.....

[SpotsMama]

I gave Spot whole intact cuttlebones for a year or two before I knew about the hard backing and he ate them and so far as I know he suffered no consequences. However, I understand the hard parts - like plastic - are not digestible and could conceivably hurt the turtle internally if eaten. And, since I've been removing the hard back and breaking the bones into pieces I can tell it's easier for Spot to eat them so he's likely to eat more.

I attach a piece of bone to a vegetable clip, by the way. That makes it even easier for Spot to eat it.

To get the hard backing off you can use a strong, sharp paring knife to pry the soft parts off. It takes a little work. Steve, I think it was, says he does a bunch at a time and keeps the pieces in a jar. I've been doing that too.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

thanks spotsmama,i broke the cuttlebone into little pellet sized pieces (as you recommended) and fed them a little bit.is it possible for them to eat TO MUCH calcium?

[SpotsMama]

Don't think so.

[marisa]

I wouldn't worry about too much calcium.