Feeding and Nutrition :: cuttlebone consumption: male vs. female?

[FLhaven4strays]

Just curious - I have 2 females in the pond & 1 male. All are adult sized. The 2 females eat WAAAAAAAAY more cuttlebone than the males. I know Liza has yet to lay eggs, but I don't know about Lucy. Does that even matter???

Mercer DOES eat it, just not the quantities that Liza & Lucy do. Prob 1-2 bites vs 1+ full cuttlebone between the ladies (1-3 x's a week). Both baby turtles eat a lot of it too (don't know their sex yet - still babies)

Wondering if this is just my males (non)preference or if others have had the same experience too.

[TheComputerGremlin]

Considering that the shell of the egg is nearly 100% calcium, it would make sense that females would consume more than males (just as female humans are encouraged to take in more iron than males). I do not know the gender of my turtle yet, and have yet to give him cuttlebone, so I can't state on experience.

[BullDog]

Well, I know my new girl just goes nuts for the cuttlebone, but I think that might be because she's never had it before, and was feeling the need for that calcium.
I find Ralph just goes after it once and a while, if he hasn't had it for a bit.
It would be interesting to find out though... I've gone through about half a cuttlebone with Frankie in a few weeks, whereas when I just had Ralph the cuttlebone would last for several months...

[SpotsMama]

I think it would make sense that females crave calcium more than males also because they grow to be so much bigger. Not only do they get longer but they also get "thicker", or taller and my impression is they weigh more per inch. That additional length and height means more shell and bone which means more calcium.

[megcornell]

I've noticed my male turtle doesn't eat nearly as much cuttlebone as my female. And my female is still years away from laying a clutch.

[industrial_girl_2000]

My female RES HATES cuttlebone & won't touch it (but she hasn't laid any eggs in at least 8 yrs). I think turtles fundamentally know what they need & will eat the cuttlebone when they actually need the calcium.

[FLhaven4strays]

Interesting. Thanks all. I just thought of it last night as I was peeling yet another 1/2 dozen 'cause the ladies & babies chomped right through their supply.