Feeding and Nutrition :: Not eating cuttlebone

[CRUSHH]

My RES and map turtle are not even touching the cuttlebone and im afried they will have a calcium defeciency . Where should i place it? My turtles are newborns so how big should the pieces be? How can i make them eat it?? Any suggestions?

[Turtleboy]

hi crushh, some turtles don't care for the cuttlebone while others love every bit of it.. you should break it how ever you want (as long as the backing is peeled off) and leave it in the water, if they dont want it the cuttlebone will eventually dissolve and they will get it through the water (don't ask me how, i just hear and read thats the alternative to them not eating it) so just stick it in the water either way they should get their calcium!

ps. having a uvb and feeding them calcium rich food will also help and would not require the use of a cuttlebone!

[sonyj]

My turtle will only eat cuttlebone if I trick him into it. I break it up about the same size as his pellets and drop it in when I feed him pellets. He eats it just fine. But if I ever put it in any other time, no matter what size he doesn't touch it. Go figure.

[Turtleboy]

lmao @ sonyj!

[missibsu]

There are calcium suppliments that you can add to the pellets that you feed. I don't know much about it personally, but I believe that others could shed some light on that. Also, give the cuttlebone a shot. Mine didn't eat it right away. I left it long enough that it sank to the bottom and eventually fished it out and pitched it. Since I am not one to give up easily, I tried again...small pieces and let it float. This time they ate it. Make sure you remove the hard backing too!

[CRUSHH]

Alright guys thanx for the advice...i will what sonyj said sound like it should work