Feeding and Nutrition :: Cuttle Bone Question ?????

[Blue Flamingo]

So, I put some cuttle bone in with my new baby turts however they didn’t eat it all. It got saturated with water and sunk to the bottom. Do you need to take it out if this happens or can you leave it in? Its not the normal flakes but a good sized chunk.

[marisa]

It often takes a while for hatchlings to catch on to the fact that cuttlebone is edible. Make the pieces small and thinnish. You might also try soaking them in the water from tuna or sardines to give them a scent that will make them more attractive to your turtles. The smaller and thinner the piece, the more quickly it will sink. Just keep trying.

[Muirner]

when it sinks is it no good? Or will some turtles still nibble on it under water?

[missibsu]

Mine still eat it after it sinks, if it doesn't drift under something so they can't reach it. I've heard others say that their turts won't touch it if it sinks. If you fish it out and let it dry out good it will float again.

[industrial_girl_2000]

If they really don't like the cuttlebone (my RES won't touch it), you can always put one of those water neutralizer blocks in the water for some added calcium. You can use the turtle-shaped white blocks or you can get the fish-shaped blocks which are usually cheaper.

If you get the fish shaped ones, make sure they are not the "feeder" blocks. Those will make the water cloudy.

[Muirner]

i thought that someone said that the turtle shaped white blocks arnt good.... correct me if i'm wrong please.

[marisa]

Depending on the form of calcium used in the block, they may not be the best thing to give your turtle (some forms of calcium are more readily assimilated than others). And the turtle-shaped blocks often contain sulfa, which is a drug; continued use of a block containing sulfa may result in your turtle's developing a resistance to it (the sulfa).

I'd try the cuttlebone and flavor it as was suggested. Some of my turtles aren't interested in it once it sinks, but it's still good. You'll just have to try it and see. If you dry it out and put it back in the water, it will float, but once it's been waterlogged it won't float as long as it initially did.

[Muirner]

i was in the pet store today and they have flavored cuttle bone's, and i assuem i dont want these.. But regular cuttle bone she says that there isnt much hard material on it. So i just cut off a lil piece and let them munch?

[steve]

There was a topic and discussion about flavored cuttlebone but there was no conclusion (I think -- it was a awhile ago). Its probably OK, but if you want to stay on the safe side, use the regular kind. Remove the hard backing and put in a small piece. If they go crazy about it, you'll have to stick to small offerings. If they don't care, you can just leave it in the tank after you remove the backing.

[marisa]

Most people stick with the plain cuttlebone. I've read of some people having success with the banana-flavored/scented kind. But I think the flavored kind costs more, and why would you want to pay more for something that is just as good but cheaper?

[industrial_girl_2000]

FYI - In terms of calcium blocks, there 2 different kinds of turtle-shaped ones. They have the sulfa blocks (usually over $2/piece....pricey), and the plain turtle shaped ones with no medication in them (usually around $1.19/each).

I don't buy the ones with sulfa. If you keep your tank clean, you should never need to use the sulfa blocks.

[marisa]

I'd be curious to know what kind of calcium is in them.

[da sAUCE!]

carbonate or citrate.

[flutterby]

Sulfa blocks are a "medication" to deal with bacteria and fungus, not a calcium supplement.

[WeirdMeta]

On the backing of the cuttlebone, is alright to give the cuttlebone to them if the backing is left on it or will it hurt them in some way ?