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I wanted to know if I should use calcium carbonate powder for my red foot tortoise if an feeding him worms or crickets? Or do I only use the calcium carbonate if am feeding him cat food?
Calcium carbonate
- Thread starter redfootraider
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You should offer a small amount of supplemental calcium whenever you are feeding him a diet low in calcium overall. A popular caresheet adds calcium to a weekly meat meal but the purpose of the calcium is to help balance the overall diet.
Please keep a couple things in mind about the calcium:
- To use calcium, the tortoise also needs at least a little vitamin D, best obtained, in order, from the sun, a good UVB bulb, natural sources, supplemented food or vitamins. While some caresheets suggest that some species do not need UVB when young, this has not been proven by studies.
- The recommended range of calcium is fairly wide, and the overdose range is pretty high. A little extra calcium will simply be excreted (unless the tortoise is dehydrated, etc.)
- It only takes a little, which is good because it is pretty bitter.
There are some helpful articles, including some recommended dosages, in the Tortoise Library, linked below.
Please keep a couple things in mind about the calcium:
- To use calcium, the tortoise also needs at least a little vitamin D, best obtained, in order, from the sun, a good UVB bulb, natural sources, supplemented food or vitamins. While some caresheets suggest that some species do not need UVB when young, this has not been proven by studies.
- The recommended range of calcium is fairly wide, and the overdose range is pretty high. A little extra calcium will simply be excreted (unless the tortoise is dehydrated, etc.)
- It only takes a little, which is good because it is pretty bitter.
There are some helpful articles, including some recommended dosages, in the Tortoise Library, linked below.
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2011
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Am still a little confused so should I use the calcium carbonate if I feed him animal matter or not? Or is the calcium carbonate only used when eating cat food?
The meats don't matter- the calcium level in the REST of the diet is the key. Most grocery store greens are fairly low in calcium so we add a pinch sometimes to balance it out.
Some diet plans (like the one I believe you are referring to) suggest a relatively short list of high calcium greens- while this helps with the calcium levels, it can limit other important nutrients. It is better to offer a wide variety of greens and supplement a little for insurance. There are some discussions, diet plans and links at the Tortoise Library linked below.
Some diet plans (like the one I believe you are referring to) suggest a relatively short list of high calcium greens- while this helps with the calcium levels, it can limit other important nutrients. It is better to offer a wide variety of greens and supplement a little for insurance. There are some discussions, diet plans and links at the Tortoise Library linked below.
I think you ought to just give a pinch of calcium two or three times a week, regardless of what meal he is eating that day. Cat food or not doesn't matter. Cat food is already pretty balanced on the calcium front. Some of the leafy greens, not so much...
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