Cuttlebone

[fluffypanda17]

Have a 1300g sulcata that seems to go through a cuddle bone per week! Is there a size where you stop offering cuddle bones? And is there any risk of impaction? Watching him/her eat it scares me!
I'm sorry if this is in the wrong section.
Thanks in advance!

 

[wellington]

I have read before that they won't eat it if they don't need it. However, that said, I think I would not give it as much. Maybe give half twice a month. Are you giving another type of calcium, vitamins, what do you feed and does he/she get outside at all? Maybe some tweaking needs to be done.

 

[GBtortoises]

As long as your tortoise is welll hydrated, drinks often and expels wastes as well as having a healthy appetite there is no reason to limit it's calcium intake. The reason for allowing a tortoise to choose when to consume it's calcium, such as by offering cuttlebone or a powdered calcium source seperately is so that the animal can control how much it needs. When coating food with calcium is when the animal cannot control how much it needs. It's essentially being forced to eat it when it's mixed with food. If a tortoise is fed a good quality, varied diet it should be obtaining a lot of calcium from it's food sources but some, especially during growth periods and when females are producing eggs, require additional calcium. Another aspect to look at is lighting and heat. What type of lighting and temperatures is your tortoise exposed to? is it adequate enough for the tortoise's body to be efficiently processing the calcium that it is taking in or is it not being absorbed well and passing through? Some individuals, for reasons not completely known, simply consume more calcium than others. Tortoises, regardless of species, are not cookie cutter replicas of each other. While tortoises in general have similarities and a species has even more similarites within it's own, they are still individuals with small differences.

 

[fluffypanda17]

I have read before that they won't eat it if they don't need it. However, that said, I think I would not give it as much. Maybe give half twice a month. Are you giving another type of calcium, vitamins, what do you feed and does he/she get outside at all? Maybe some tweaking needs to be done.

He gets vitamins and calcium twice a week. The other sulcatas with him don't seem to eat as much of the cuttlebone. They haven't gotten natural light lately because its very cold outside. But he's always out when the temps are right. He gets Bermuda grass, fescue, clover, dandelions, mulberry, grape leaves, rose, hibiscus, spring mix, collards, kale, turnip greens, mustard greens, mazuri, and the zoo med pellets.

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As long as your tortoise is welll hydrated, drinks often and expels wastes as well as having a healthy appetite there is no reason to limit it's calcium intake. The reason for allowing a tortoise to choose when to consume it's calcium, such as by offering cuttlebone or a powdered calcium source seperately is so that the animal can control how much it needs. When coating food with calcium is when the animal cannot control how much it needs. It's essentially being forced to eat it when it's mixed with food. If a tortoise is fed a good quality, varied diet it should be obtaining a lot of calcium from it's food sources but some, especially during growth periods and when females are producing eggs, require additional calcium. Another aspect to look at is lighting and heat. What type of lighting and temperatures is your tortoise exposed to? is it adequate enough for the tortoise's body to be efficiently processing the calcium that it is taking in or is it not being absorbed well and passing through? Some individuals, for reasons not completely known, simply consume more calcium than others. Tortoises, regardless of species, are not cookie cutter replicas of each other. While tortoises in general have similarities and a species has even more similarites within it's own, they are still individuals with small differences.

Short on time so for a quick response, this tort is well hydrated. Has proper heat and uv.

 

[Laura]

i find they are cheaper at feed stores.. they often will buy in bulk and sell them out of a box and you can choose your own...
but they always need it..

 

[fluffypanda17]

i find they are cheaper at feed stores.. they often will buy in bulk and sell them out of a box and you can choose your own...
but they always need it..

They're only a dollar at Walmart for me. Are they cheaper than that at a feed store?