Supplements
- Thread starter Torty
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- Mar 28, 2012
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- 150
I only supplement calcium a few times a week and my torts seem fine. They would normally refuse to eat their food with the powered calcium. I recently found a liquid spray calcium supplement and haven't heard anything negative about it and they eat their food when it's on there. Anyone else have ideas?!
The answer is the same for adult humans, baby humans, cats, horses, and tortoises:
The goal is a healthy, balanced diet. Small amounts of supplements may help ensure that adequate doses are received over time. Most adult humans, for example, should not need more than a single 'all-in-one' tablet a couple times a week AT THE MOST, and should aim for a good enough diet to not need them at all.
Having said that, it is really tough to make sure tortoises get all they need since what we can offer is often limited by what is available locally and seasonally, etc.
For most tortoises, try this:
- a very small pinch of calcium once or twice a week at the most, mostly when using a lot of lettuce.
- a very small pinch of a multi-vitamin with minerals once a week. If you take vitamins, crush one up once a week and put a small pinch on the food, then eat the rest of it.
- a small sprinkling of fiber supplements (I use crunched up Timothy hay cubes like they give to rabbits) 2-3 times a week if the main diet is grocery store food.
I actually use a mix I made up...
- About 2 cups of crunched up Timothy hay cubes
- About a half teaspoon of calcium powder
- About 1/2 of a crunched up vitamin tablet
------ Shake well, store in an airtight container.
------ Use a small sprinkling 2-3 times a week on meals that are low in fiber or calcium.
The goal is a healthy, balanced diet. Small amounts of supplements may help ensure that adequate doses are received over time. Most adult humans, for example, should not need more than a single 'all-in-one' tablet a couple times a week AT THE MOST, and should aim for a good enough diet to not need them at all.
Having said that, it is really tough to make sure tortoises get all they need since what we can offer is often limited by what is available locally and seasonally, etc.
For most tortoises, try this:
- a very small pinch of calcium once or twice a week at the most, mostly when using a lot of lettuce.
- a very small pinch of a multi-vitamin with minerals once a week. If you take vitamins, crush one up once a week and put a small pinch on the food, then eat the rest of it.
- a small sprinkling of fiber supplements (I use crunched up Timothy hay cubes like they give to rabbits) 2-3 times a week if the main diet is grocery store food.
I actually use a mix I made up...
- About 2 cups of crunched up Timothy hay cubes
- About a half teaspoon of calcium powder
- About 1/2 of a crunched up vitamin tablet
------ Shake well, store in an airtight container.
------ Use a small sprinkling 2-3 times a week on meals that are low in fiber or calcium.
I, and many others, use human supplements for a few basic reasons...
1. They tend to be cheaper, or at least, you get better quality for the money
2. They are almost always better quality, and are absolutely better regulated
3. Pretty much vitamins are vitamins. While some animals USE different vitamins a little differently, and some have increased or decreased needs for certain vitamins, there is almost never a problem offering a basic vitamin mix. The biggest concerns are the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, and E). The rest pretty much wash out if not needed.
Besides, there on on-line sites where I can get vitamin deals like this- http://www.puritan.com/multivitamins-067/multi-day-multi-vitamin-001570
1. They tend to be cheaper, or at least, you get better quality for the money
2. They are almost always better quality, and are absolutely better regulated
3. Pretty much vitamins are vitamins. While some animals USE different vitamins a little differently, and some have increased or decreased needs for certain vitamins, there is almost never a problem offering a basic vitamin mix. The biggest concerns are the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, and E). The rest pretty much wash out if not needed.
Besides, there on on-line sites where I can get vitamin deals like this- http://www.puritan.com/multivitamins-067/multi-day-multi-vitamin-001570
Great summary, Mark.
I also like the TNT supplement with probiotics from Carolina Pet Supply. Free shipping. I dust some on a couple of times per week. I also keep a cuttlebone in their enclosure.
http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=58
I also like the TNT supplement with probiotics from Carolina Pet Supply. Free shipping. I dust some on a couple of times per week. I also keep a cuttlebone in their enclosure.
http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=58
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