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Cuttlebone

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:28 pm
by countrygal_cc
I was wondering if I can give my red ear slider a small piece of a cuttlebone that I have for my two cockatiel birds. I have an extra
one and I was wondering if it would be ok to break off a small piece.
Misty

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:40 pm
by bri456789
i sopose but make sue no sharp edges or big pecies and i would watch them eat it but if you dont think its a good idea then i wouldnt but i would be careful is you do

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:41 pm
by flutterby
Just make sure you take the hard backing off of it and they'll be fine. Most of us give them that for calcium.

PostPosted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 5:21 pm
by Muirner
What is cuttlebone? I thought i saw it today in the petstore but i wasnt sure... any pictures?

PostPosted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:11 pm
by marisa
There are a number of threads on this topic if you look/do a search. It's the soft interior bone of the cuttlefish (similar to squid). It's found in the bird section and is a good supplemental source of calcium for your turtle. I take off the hard backing a keep several head-size pieces floating in my turtles' tanks. They eat it when they feel like it.

PostPosted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:34 am
by WeirdMeta
What is the hard backing?

PostPosted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:20 am
by flutterby
If you've bought it before, you would know what the hard backing is.

PostPosted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:53 am
by WeirdMeta
Oh, well I guess I better go buy some then to find out lol.

PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 3:42 am
by BullDog
The hard backing is kind of like a shell on one side. When you buy it, you'll be able to scratch one side of the cuttlebone with your fingernail, but not the other side. The hard side is the side you want to "peel" off (it's a couple mm thick)

PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 4:36 am
by JNZBCBnLIL
when i got my cuttlebone there was no hard backing?- I was able to break pieces off, no problem, and when I scratched each side I was able to- I hope I just didn't realize something and have been giving him half cuttlebone/half hard backing O_o he seems to enjoy his cuttlebone alot though!!

PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 5:30 pm
by marisa
If the piece has hard backing, you'd know it. You can dig your nail into the soft side (it's like chalk), but the other side has a crust on it.