Calcium supplements

[tikifrog]

Greetings All,

Just curious as to what everyone is offering large adult sullies for their calcium needs. Please offer your advise on what you use, how often you supplement and where you purchase your goods.

Thanks,

John

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi John:

Since my adult tortoises only graze, I can't very well sprinkle the calcium powder over the pen, so I have a cuttlebone in each habitat.

My Aldabran tortoises are showing symptoms of a lack of calcium, so I've been adding human calcium to their daily routine. I take a sipping straw and poke a hole in a small, bite-sized piece of food (strawberry, cantaloupe, zuchinni, tomato, whatever). They each weigh a little over 100lbs, so each tortoise gets three 500mg calcium tablets, so I hand feed each tortoise three bites of whatever. They usually swallow it whole, so they don't even know there was a calcium tablet in their bite. I'm getting pretty good at keeping my fingers out of their "bite."

 

[DeanS]

Cuttlebone is a GREAT choice...Opuntia (prickly pear cactus) is even better...the perfect food...all the calcium they need and a great source of fiber. Honestly, I haven't used the powder in over a month...that includes the babies, too!

 

[tikifrog]

Thanks for the replies!

How do you offer the cuttle bone? Is it attached to something? I guess they find it on their own and consume when they need it? I've planted an opuntia, hopefully I can harvest pads from it next year. I pick up some occasionally from the farmer's market but will try to feed more of it. Has anyone tried human supplements? I use ground Centrum as part of a supplement rotation I give to my frogs.

Thanks Again,

John

 

[Missy]

I use cuttlebone and feed cactus as often as I can. Cuttlebone is sold in pet stores usually in the bird section. I just through it in Tanks pen and he eats it when he wants but Lana has MBD so I cut off a piece and mix it in with her food 3 times a week. She will not eat it on her own but always eats it when I mix small chunks in her food. I don't use human supplements at all, not that it's bad I am just over cautious.

 

[Tom]

Mine won't touch the cuttlebone, but I leave some in each enclosure anyway. I use repcal with no D3. If I have an indoor animal that isn't getting regular sunshine then, I'll use the repcal WITH D3. I just pick it up where ever. Pet store, reptile show, online. It lasts a long time. I just use a small amount, sprinkled on the food about twice a week.