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I've noticed that Spot isn't nearly as interested in his cuttlebones as he used to be. He's about 3 and a half years old and isn't growing any more that I can tell - or if he is he's slowed down. Is it normal for a grown turtle not to need as much calcium? He eats some but not that much.

I find when Ralph feels like he needs some, he'll eat it. Sometimes if he's had enough calcium (either through cuttle bone or veggies) he'll leave cuttlebone chunks in there longer.

My vet told me the same thing Bulldog said.

OK thanks. I guess he knows what he's doing.

SpotsMama wrote:I've noticed that Spot isn't nearly as interested in his cuttlebones as he used to be. He's about 3 and a half years old and isn't growing any more that I can tell - or if he is he's slowed down. Is it normal for a grown turtle not to need as much calcium? He eats some but not that much.

My big baby doesn't like eating cuttlebone, so I take those fish or turtle "water neutralizer" calcium blocks and put a couple of those in the filter medium. As the water runs thru the filter, it dissolves the block(s) and my turtle gets plenty of calcium thru her water. I add new blocks every time I change her water.

Neat idea.

That's the good thing about cuttlebone---your turtle eats it as he needs it (they're programmed to do this)---and leaving some in the tank gives him that option. The need for calcium is somewhat less for mature turtles than it is for hatchling/younger turtles.

Thanks to all. I'll stick with the cuttlebone. Spot still eats it - just not every day.