Calcium concern... :/

[Kapidolo Farms]

"Im a chef I can tell you escargot shells are a bad idea.....they are coated and treated. There processed for cleaning and reuse. That's makes me think that they are prob toxic for the torts. "



Good heads-up on that. I won't eat escargot in a restaurant then if there are toxic substances on the shells the food is served in.

You can buy live snails in California here
http://resources.wardsci.com/livecare/land-snails/

They are a good food item for a few reason, but nothing to go crazy about. The suggestion for snails was based on the OP where the tortoise was trying to eat a hermit crab shell. Often it is a good idea to bridge what is happening to what you think ought to happen, the best bridge in behavior modification is also often the shortest bridge.

Oyster shell may be a good alternate as well.

I don't believe anyone will know what was going on that prompted the OP's tortoise to try and eat a hermit crab shell, over other calcium sources provided. The two closest things that occurred to me are other kinds of shells, snails and oyster, that are readily accessible.

Will

 

[peasinapod]

I read on a german forum that tortoises seem to love pulverized algal limestone (? In german it's called Algenkalk, 70-80% calciumcarbonat) if you provide it in a shallow bowl. Maybe you can also find pulverized shell limestone (Muschelkalk/Muschelgrit), they aslo seem to love that. I haven't tried it myself, but a lot of people use it. Just put it in a bowl and they'll go for it whenever they want it.

 

[Blgreek08]

Re: RE: Calcium concern... :/

"Im a chef I can tell you escargot shells are a bad idea.....they are coated and treated. There processed for cleaning and reuse. That's makes me think that they are prob toxic for the torts. "



Good heads-up on that. I won't eat escargot in a restaurant then if there are toxic substances on the shells the food is served in.

You can buy live snails in California here
http://resources.wardsci.com/livecare/land-snails/

haha I just meant the shells are coated for easy cleaning. You don't eat the shell when you eat escargot lol. Also it's gross I have had it. We had to try it in culinary school. It's safe to eat from just don't crunch a shell hahaha

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

Way off topic, but any food slathered in butter and garlic taste OK to me, I have only had escagot served in a special baking pan with a divet for each snail, served with little pieces of toast. The date/now wife, and I ended up just having a few orders of this "appetizer" and some chocolate thing for desert, no "dinner".

I'm still wondering about how something on my food plate, can be toxic on the outside, with food I'm going to eat on the inside? I don't know, frankly, but I won't get escargo again, if it will be served that way. Really thanks for the head's up chef.

Will

 

[Yvonne G]

If your tortoise won't eat food that has calcium sprinkled on it, then you are using too much. Just take a pinch between thumb and index finger. It doesn't take a whole lot.

 

[HelenP]

Glad I found this thread I was goin to post the same thing, My baby DT's wont eat with the Calcium on, and being new to all this was panacking a bit,
so maybe I put to much, I guess a sprinkle to me is more of a down pour to them I will re try and use less and make sure nicely mixed in