how often should this be given? and about how much. the other day i pinched alittle onto her mazuri and she ate it. but i was just curious how i should be going about it
question on calcium
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heyprettyrave said:
Generally, the rule of thumb is everyday for babies, 2 or 3 X week for adults...My torts just get it lightly dusted upon their food, because too much makes them balk from eating.
And you really can't overdose 'em, as what thery don't need just gets "flushed out" in their urates.
I give it once a week - but I keep cuttlebone available that they munch on whenever they want.
well she always has the cuttle bone available. so do i really need to do the calcium powder?
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I prefer to offer calcium carbonate seperately, never on their food. This enables it to be available at all times and allows them to self regulate their intake of it, which they do.
For small and young tortoises I offer it in powder form in a shallow dish (container lid) and as small broken pieces of cuttlebone. For adults just the cuttlebone.
It isn't entirely true that you can't overdose tortoises on calcium. You can if they are not kept well hydrated. If you're going to coat their food with calcium, essentially forcing them to eat large quantities of it, they should be very well hydrated at all times in order to prevent calcium binding and facilitate constant expelling of urates.
For small and young tortoises I offer it in powder form in a shallow dish (container lid) and as small broken pieces of cuttlebone. For adults just the cuttlebone.
It isn't entirely true that you can't overdose tortoises on calcium. You can if they are not kept well hydrated. If you're going to coat their food with calcium, essentially forcing them to eat large quantities of it, they should be very well hydrated at all times in order to prevent calcium binding and facilitate constant expelling of urates.
okay. so to make this clear...i do not have to give her calcium. only the cuttlebone and that should be fine? because that would make it much easier if i didnt have to do the calcium
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Cuttlebone is calcium, just in a different form than the powder. For a young or very small tortoise I would definitely recommend that the tortoise have access to both powdered calcium and small pieces of cuttlebone. Not all young tortoises can easily bite into cuttlebone, some pieces are very hard. They do eventually learn to. In the meantime they can easily consume the powdered form.
You can make powdered calcium by simply pulverizing cuttlebone or scrapping it off.
You can make powdered calcium by simply pulverizing cuttlebone or scrapping it off.
well she eats her cuttlebone with no problems. so thank you for all this information
How hard is it to sprinkle over the food?
If its a baby.. dont skimp.. they are fragile enough as it is and I wouldnt take the chance ..
If its a baby.. dont skimp.. they are fragile enough as it is and I wouldnt take the chance ..
1. Tortoises need calcium. No one knows what the best daily dosage is, but they need calcium, and they need it at AT LEAST a 1:1 ratio with phosphorous. (This is the mysterious and powerful Calcium: Phosphorus Ratio)
2. Most grocery store tort foods are a little high on the phosphorous side, so supplementation is a good thing. Ideally, we would provide just enough to slightly overbalance the phosphorous.
3. Most calcium powders are 'calcium carbonate', or a refined lime, as are cuttlebones and most other bones.
4. Some torts avoid cuttlebones, some eat them freely regardless of calcium need. I prefer to not depend on the cuttlebone so use powder. Besides, so far, most of mine ignore the cuttlebone
5. Excess calcium is generally flushed out in a well-hydrated tortoises, but most pet tortoises are dehydrated to some extent, so don't count on this. 'Unflushed' calcium contributes to bladder stones, etc.
6. As far as we can tell, the best guess is to add a small pinch about two times a week to twice a month or so. More often if your food is low in calcium (like most lettuces), and less often when using high-calcium foods. When you DO add it, treat it like it costs a fortune and is mildly poisonous- little pinches at a time.
7. None of this means squat without vitamin D, from diet, supplements, or lighting. You NEED some form of vitamin D to 'unlock' the cells to take in the calcium. (Most discussion focuses on D3, but D2 seems to work perfectly well, if not as aggressively.)
8. Learn about calcium-rich foods (and oxalates) so you can reasonably guess what your calcium levels are and what roughly you need to add. Mazuri really should not need much else- although the company recommends some 'real food' as well each feeding.
2. Most grocery store tort foods are a little high on the phosphorous side, so supplementation is a good thing. Ideally, we would provide just enough to slightly overbalance the phosphorous.
3. Most calcium powders are 'calcium carbonate', or a refined lime, as are cuttlebones and most other bones.
4. Some torts avoid cuttlebones, some eat them freely regardless of calcium need. I prefer to not depend on the cuttlebone so use powder. Besides, so far, most of mine ignore the cuttlebone
5. Excess calcium is generally flushed out in a well-hydrated tortoises, but most pet tortoises are dehydrated to some extent, so don't count on this. 'Unflushed' calcium contributes to bladder stones, etc.
6. As far as we can tell, the best guess is to add a small pinch about two times a week to twice a month or so. More often if your food is low in calcium (like most lettuces), and less often when using high-calcium foods. When you DO add it, treat it like it costs a fortune and is mildly poisonous- little pinches at a time.
7. None of this means squat without vitamin D, from diet, supplements, or lighting. You NEED some form of vitamin D to 'unlock' the cells to take in the calcium. (Most discussion focuses on D3, but D2 seems to work perfectly well, if not as aggressively.)
8. Learn about calcium-rich foods (and oxalates) so you can reasonably guess what your calcium levels are and what roughly you need to add. Mazuri really should not need much else- although the company recommends some 'real food' as well each feeding.
The right answer is somewhere between none at all and every single day. Lots of people follow one or the other of these two extremes and raise healthy tortoises.
Personally, I feel if you are feeding a good varied diet of weeds and stuff (not too much grocery store stuff, in other words) , that a little bit a couple of times a week is plenty.
Personally, I feel if you are feeding a good varied diet of weeds and stuff (not too much grocery store stuff, in other words) , that a little bit a couple of times a week is plenty.
okay thank you, i will begin giving alittle bit a week now
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