Calcium Help!

[kay1989]

Hi, I have a 10 month old Hermann tort that I've had for 5 weeks now.
It has a cuttle-bone in it's enclosure but has barley touched it and i sprinkle a calcium-D3 supplement powder on it's food twice a week but the days I do this it won't eat. I've read problems torts can have with their shells dipping and not forming properly if they have a lack of calcium. I'm worried my tort will do this as it won't eat the cuttle-bone or powder (the cuttle-bone does have a few nibble bites but has been in there for 5 weeks and only has a few marks). She also goes in the sun quite often - its currently spring in New Zealand so spending maybe three/four full days a week outside when it is hot enough.

Any suggestions?

Thanks, Kay.

 

[dmmj]

You might be using to much powder, the smell can drive them off, try to use less on their food and see how that works out. Remember their food has calcium in it naturally, the powder is just a supplement, you can try some calcium rich foods, like cactus pads.