Feeding and Nutrition :: Wondering about Cuttlebone...

[angelgurl1787]

I want to feed my turtles cuttlebone, but I don't know how to.

Is it just ok to buy the cuttlebone for birds and feed it to the turtles?

[cam722]

Yes, you just need to take off the hard backing and then put a piece in their tank..

[RESCHIU]

sorry this might sounds stupid, but what is "hard backing" in cuttlebone? do you mean that metal piece that is used in bird's cage? or the hard piece on cuttlebone itself? (sorry i'm new to this...)

[jenaero]

there are no stupid questions. I still remember something my 7th grade teacher always said. "It's better to ask a silly question than to make a silly mistake". The clip is just there to attach to the cage for birds. Take that off, of course, then take a knife and remove the hard layer of bone on the back. It's nearly impossible for it to be digested so that's why it's important. Some turts like smaller pieces, while I throw half a bone in each tank and they take it that way.

[Az^FolkSinger]

At Petco I have found cuttlebone in a bulk type that does not have the hard backing and is sold loose... it is a really big piece and cheaper then the package type with the backing. just for a FYI

[BROOKLYN]

sorry this might sounds stupid, but what is "hard backing" in cuttlebone? do you mean that metal piece that is used in bird's cage? or the hard piece on cuttlebone itself? (sorry i'm new to this...)

Hi Reschiu. The cuttlebone that TurtleTalk forum speaks of is the product that are produce for birds. They range from about $.99 -$1.50US. The cuttlebone comes with a metal clip that's intended for clipping the cuttlebone onto the bird cage. You need to remove that. The hard backing that Cam722 speaks of is on one side of the cuttlebone itself. You can easily spot it once you buy it. I use a knife and slowly chip it away. It's like chipping/scraping dry paint off the wall. You can just break off small pieces; small enough to fit into your turtle's mouth. You can leave it floating in the water. It's not unusual if your turtle(s) don't show much interest in it. Some turtles go for it immediately, some eventually come through, and some turtles simply show no interest in it at all. Eventually the cuttlebone will dissolve into the water and it is still beneficial this way. My two baby RES aren't really interested in it yet. So what I do is wet the cuttlebone until it softens up a bit and break it into a powder form. Then I just sprinkle it over a partial wet Reptomins and serve it that way. Hope that helps.

[marisa]

The Petco near me sells loose cuttlebone as well, however, it still has the hard backing. Just check to make sure--you can dig your fingernail into one side but not the other. The soft side looks more like chalk as well.