Feeding and Nutrition :: Substitution for cuttlebone

[novroz]

I can't find cuttlebone for these last 3 months...I still have quite a stock of them...but it's almost empty now and I still can't find them.

Is there any suggestion on what to give if I still can't find it??

I hope I can find it soon...They love cuttlebone.

Thx for your help

[gwennie]

Where do you live?

Is it possible for you to receive them by mail?

[steve]

Where did you get it before? You can also go for a balanced diet and maybe a supplement if you still want to add additional calcium.

[novroz]

I live in Indonesia...

I used to buy it in a birdshop...but the place I go to is curently out of stock and not sure when they'll get it again.

What do you mean by Balance diet?

[gwennie]

You could PM me your info and I could send you some if you like ^^ It might take a little while to get there, but they're relatively light and wouldn't cost that much for me to ship.

[novroz]

Thx for the offer gwennie

I have another place to check on saturday. Quite far from my house but for my babies I'll do it. I hope they still have few stock.

If not....I better ask someone to send me. There's no substitution for cuttlebone is it?

Kame just laid another egg...she really needs her calsium

[gwennie]

Oh!

I just realized - boiled egg shells are a good source of calcium. If you boil them and then peel them & break them up, or even just save your egg shells and then boil them off so they're clean, many folks here feed those to turtles and they like them. Just make sure there aren't any large pieces that could get stuck in their throats or cut their mouths. They'll usually chomp them down some too. They never eat them all, so you'll have to clean them up eventually, but at least it's there if they want it?

Also, consider feeding her snails? Their shells are a source of calcium, as well as live fish - their bones have calcium too.

[novroz]

the egg shell sounds interesting I'll try that one.

By the way, can I let her ear her own egg?

[gwennie]

Yes you can do that too - they're full of calcium and nutrients ^^

[TheComputerGremlin]

If you are going to do the egg route, I would recommend using a mortar and pestle to grind the egg up to a powder, and then make it into the jello shots, that way it's less of a mess and less chances that it could hurt her throat.

[worldpeace]

You can let the egg shells sit in water for about a week and most of them(if not all) will dissolve. You can then put the water in your turtle tank.

My mom came up with this idea and I've used it a few times for my snails as well. I am rather scared that my 1.5 inch RES will choke on a solid piece of egg shell.

Is this method the same (or close to) letting him eat the solid egg shells? Can he absorb the calcium from the water?

[TheComputerGremlin]

No, they will not get a significant amount through the water. It will likely get pulled out by your filter or just leave deposits on your tank.

Egg shells are by far the least suggested option for calcium, but since we have a number of international posters, not all can get cuttlebone, which is the most preferred method. worldpeace - Look in your local pet store's bird section for something called cuttlebone, or purchase it online. It is the best method and a 1.5" turtle can easily handle a head-sized piece of it at a time.

[gianoshoes]

will you be willing to try Calcium supplement like Rep-Cal Calcium powder? i've also seen the Zoo Med Reptivite - don't know whch is better though

[SliderGirl]

What about beak conditioner blocks? Not lava type but the fruity type. I think they have calcium in them.
http://www.soaap.com/pets/images/produc ... D-8702.jpg

[jozzep]

These guys ship internationally

http://www.arcatapet.com/item.cfm?cat=869