Feeding and Nutrition :: Carrots and Calcium

[squirt!]

2 questions.

First, how much cuttlebone is ideal for a 1.5-2 inch RES? Is there such thing as "too much"? Advice on size relative to everyday objects would help :]

Second is out of curiosity: why are carrots on the "moderate" list of vegetables instead of being a staple? How often can I give carrots, and is it harmful if I feed them too often? At least once or twice a week I give my RES some shredded carrot (along with pellets and lettuce, of course. It is not the only thing I feed that day but it's good for vitA, especially for my RES who is recovering from an RI).

Thanks in advance!

[steve]

Too much of anything is not good, and you shouldn't rely on cuttlebone as the primary calcium source. Veggies and pellets should also have some calcium in it. As for how much, and how often, there is no set rule, though I would say a pea-sized offering a day.

I believe it's on the moderate side because of the sugar and sodium content. It's probably OK to give in small amounts everyday.

[squirt!]

if cuttlebone cant be the only calcium source, what vegetables can? as for the pellets i can check, alhtough i doubt they have much. thanks!

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

I know Reptomin has a good amount of calcium in their pellets.

[steve]

Red Leaf lettuce or Dandelion leaves have good amounts of calcium and you can offer those every day/

[squirt!]

cool, red leaf lettuce is already a staple in the diet so i think that should be good!

[marisa]

The thing with carrots is that they have a negative calcium/phosphorus ratio and a surprisingly high oxalic acid content (oxalic acid binds with calcium and inhibits absorption). This is offset by the benefits they offer, mainly a high level of beta carotene which is converted into Vit A. I feed carrots to my turtles about once a week; how often you feed them depends on the amount you're giving. As part of a varied diet, they are good to give.

Veggies higher in calcium include dandelions, collard greens, kale, and chicory, and the aquatiac plant duckweed (arguably the best plant to give your turtle). Red leaf lettuce has some, but I wouldn't put it in the same catagory as the others. The main thing is to provide a variety of such foods for a balanced diet.

[squirt!]

right now his diet consists of a medium-size piece of red lettuce, a pea-size portion of calcium, and pellets (1/4 size of head) daily. carrots fed every other day- 2 carrot lengths 'shredded"