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I've read through the site, and I see that cuttle bone is recommended. What exactly is cuttle bone? I looked it up on Wikipedia, and nothing came up.

The reason I ask is because I'm a vegetarian. I honestly don't mind feeding my (future) turtle small fish, or dried shrimp, or something like that, but I feel bad about buying anything mammal or bird related. Since it has the word "bone" in it, I was just curious.

It's just a block of calcium. It's not an animal bone, you break small chunks of the calcium of of the main block and give it to your turtles. You'll find it in the bird section, because cuttlebone is mainly for birds. It has no animal matter in the block, just pure calcium. Correct me if I'm wrong, because that's all my cuttlebone is.

That's awesome. Thanks for the reply.

Another question, should cuttle bone be given daily, weekly, or what?

Cuttlebone is the internal "skeleton" of a squid. Really. It's not mammel or bird, nor is it manufactured, but it's from a living sea creature.

I think it should be available just about all the time. Your turtle will nibble on it, snack-like, throughout the day. Just be sure and take it out if it isn't all eaten in a few days, when it starts to get slimy or sinks to the bottom of the tank.

You don't have to give the whole bone, just a piece or pieces is fine.

Oh wow, I just assumed it was pure calcium since it's just 99 cents for each bone. That's interesting that they can get the skeleton of a squid, process it, ship it, package it for only 99 cents!

One side of the cuttlebone will have hard backing on it. If you can't dig your fingernail into it, then that is the side with the backing. That hard stuff needs to be peeled off before giving it to your turtles. It's a pain to do so, fair warning.

I suppose it's calamari left-overs! Amazing, I agree.

You've heard of types of squids called cuttlefish? They're the source.

Good to know. And also happy to hear that it's so cheap.

Some background + pics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuttlefish

FYI - Re: Cuttlebone:

After I break off the hard backing of the cuttlebone, which is kind of a pain but has to be done, I end up with big chunks. I then grate the soft chunks with a small cheese grater that has the very small holes. Then I smoosh most of it into a powder and add it to their moist food - veggies, or whatever it may be. Then I'll sometimes let it dry on the food so it doesn't desolve immediatly into the tank water or I'll set it in an area where they can eat it fresh outside of the water.

You can keep a supply of your home-made cuttlebone powder in a small tupperware, baby-food or similar container until next time you use it.

I did this because my turts would have nothing to do with it otherwise. So I have to sneak it into the food.

This is better and WAY cheaper than the calcium powder sold at pet stores.

wait, do they eat chunks of it? or does it have to be like powder? my turtle needs calcium.

If you break it into small head size chunks they will eat it. The powder doesn't do well in the water. Left over powder from breaking it all apart can be used to coat the pellets that your turtle eats.

frioverte wrote:wait, do they eat chunks of it? or does it have to be like powder? my turtle needs calcium.

Do you have another turtle? I know you just lost one...again I'm sorry.
I thought you just had the one.

Shavannah,

I think you might be referring to me. I lost one of my turtles not too long ago. I only have one now.

I make my own calcium powder because it's easy to do and cheaper than the pet store but mainly because my turtle will not eat the chunks. Period.

So I have to sneak it into his/her food and either let it dry on the food (so it does'nt desolve in the water) or put the food in an area on his 'rock' where it's still slightly in the water but will not float away. He's shy and won't eat in front of me and this way I can check that area later to see if the food is gone. So far, seems to be working!

today, i bought a cuttlebone for my turtles and im wonderning what did you use to peel the hard layer? right now, im confused about how to take it off.