Feeding and Nutrition :: Turtle Bone..

[Tattoo]

I bought some ZooMed turtle bone and after reading the instuctions I noticed there was nothing saying aything about peeling off the back. I woas wondering if I should still peel it off and also just for knowledge why?

[marisa]

Turtle Bone is cuttlebone with a fancy name at an often higher price. Yes, you should still take off the hard backing. It's very sharp and you turtle could cut his mouth chomping on it. It's also not digestible, and a worst case scenario would be if he swallowed a sharp little piece and got cut inside as it traveled through his system (or possibly impacted).

[Tattoo]

That make sense to me..Thanks for the info!

[Tattoo]

HA HA HA got another question.HOW do I get it off...lol

[marisa]

I use a (very) sharp knife. (Got a sharp pocket knife?) First I break the cuttlebone in half (or quarters) and then pry the back of of each section. Sometimes it comes off in almost one pieces, sometimes it's really messy and comes off in smaller pieces. When I do this, I fill a whole jar of head-size pieces so I don't have to do it that often.

[ZombieTurtle]

Yeah i had tried turtlebone,, it doesnt say one thing about taking off the back, or have any instruction/suggestions at all other then put turtle bone in water, or on land haha

[scripta_elegans]

I use a butter knife to get the backing off, because I cut myself each time I use te sharp one. I think it takes longer to take the backing off, but less time to put on band aids.

[marisa]

scripta, you need to improve your cuttlebone technique.

[scripta_elegans]

I really really do marisa. When my husband sees the cuttle bone come out, he gets ready with the band aids, and looks kind of ill.

[marisa]

It's almost gift-giving season---a few years ago I was in Walmart and they had a person doing a demonstration on a set of super-sharp knives. To get potential business, a stainless paring knife was promised to everyone who would listen to the demonstrator's spiel. I listened and got a knife. It supposedly never needs sharpening, is small and very easy to use. It's been dedicated to peeling off the back/cutting up cuttlebone. I've never cut myself on it, but once did poke myself when it slipped prying off the back (before I started breaking the cuttlebone into half before prying).

[scripta_elegans]

What's the technique that you use to get under the backing ? That is about always when I slip.

[Tattoo]

LOL it is funny to hear about you knife stories.. I guess I done this cuz I am a guy but I just used a flathead screw driver...I will try a knife next time! Might be easier.

[marisa]

I used the word "technique" half in jest. I break a piece into halves or smaller (depending on the size). I hold a piece on a wad of newspaper (usually) with the soft side down. Then I just take the knife and push it in a bit just under the backing, and twist/lift. Sometimes it comes off cleanly, sometimes it comes off in small pieces. I've found that some cuttlebone is harder to deal with than others, I don't know why, perhaps how well it's dried has something to do with it. I think using a shorter rather than longer blade is better as well.

[Tenodera]

That's the same way I do it, except I don't use newspapers and I fling pieces of cuttlebone all over the carpet and across the room.

[ZombieTurtle]

yeah when i attempted that, i did what tenodera does and cuttlebone went everywhere. it was a fun experience minus the fun. haha i ended up making a lot of calcium powder