Author Topic: Cuttlebones and Tums  (Read 355 times)

racingzeno

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Cuttlebones and Tums
« on: April 01, 2006, 07:07:43 AM »
Recently read that a Vet recommended Cherry flavor Tums (antiacid) to help their tort with Calcium.

That just sounds to crazy, and I want to know anyones experience with Cuttlebones. Do they help maintain beak health? do torts actually like them? Please post your experience here.

Joe H

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Re: Cuttlebones and Tums
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2006, 07:47:07 AM »
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Recently read that a Vet recommended Cherry flavor Tums (antiacid) to help their tort with Calcium.

It is crazy. But its commonly recommended by vets and medical doctors.  As a human nutritionist, I can tell you don't waste your time on it

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I want to know anyones experience with Cuttlebones. Do they help maintain beak health?

Yes

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do torts actually like them?

Yes. They may ignore it for a long time, especially if you feed them a good diet. But when they need calcium, they dive in.

Below is a picture of a 2 month old redfoot eating some. She chewed on it for close to an hour. It wore off her egg tooth.




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lepinsky

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Re: Cuttlebones and Tums
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2006, 09:59:47 AM »
Does anyone else find that their tort will only eat cuttlebone if it is very weathered?  I heard somewhere that they don't like it when new because of the fishy smell.  I have two pieces in Boris's indoor enclosure that sat outside for about a month, but he hasn't touched them.  Then I put him in his outdoor enclosure on the weekend and there was a horrible old piece of cuttlebone left over from last year  -- all green with mould and dirty  -- and he devoured the whole thing in about fifteen minutes (he does have limestone flour sprinkled on his food every other day, alternating with Joe's TNT supplement, so he's not lacking in calcium.

Nina

1nt2teach

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Re: Cuttlebones and Tums
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2006, 09:07:21 AM »
Does anyone else find that their tort will only eat cuttlebone if it is very weathered?

OH YES!!  My torts will gnaw on one if i soak it in water for a few mins, let it dry and then give it to them....they go crazy, although i'm not sure i'd be letting them eat mold....maybe just because it makes me feel iffy, don't really know what kind of stuff if might or might not do to them...