It is essential that you seek advice from ourselves as you may risk infringing your guarantee with us if advice is taken elsewhere. The bones of cuttlefish are high in calcium. Most calcium supplements contain cuttlefish bone as their primary ingredient. Cuttlefish can also be obtained fresh at most pet stores. However, be careful when buying cuttlefish because the shells are extremely sharp and may cause injury to the tortoise or a person. Therefore, be sure to remove the shell and cut the bones into pieces before putting them into the tortoise’s bowl. Cuttlefish is a good source of oxalic acid Regardless, cuttlebones that aren’t all-natural are also excellent choices as they help protect the wild cuttlefish populations. If you want to prevent nutritional metabolic bone disease and shell deformities like pyramding, one of the best ways to offer your tortoise more calcium is through cuttlebones. Chelonians in general seem to love cuttlebone. They help prevent overgrown beaks

The best calcium food for tortoises include collard greens, kale, and turnip greens. Some good fruit options include kiwi, berries, and papaya.

Interestingly, cuttlebones are so high in calcium that they are even used in commercial calcium supplements for reptiles. When feeding cuttlefish to your tortoise, it is important to monitor their consumption and adjust the frequency accordingly. Some tortoises may eat more or less than others, based on their individual needs. As a responsible tortoise owner, it is your role to observe your pet's eating habits and adjust their diet to ensure they are getting the right balance of nutrients.

Oddly, magnesium helps the body to absorb calcium and, in particular, it appears to play a part in the production of hormones that regulate calcium in the metabolism. Tortoises will always get enough magnesium in their diet. Phosphorus Interestingly, cuttlebone is an actual bone from the Cuttlefish- Sepia officinalis. They are closely related to octopus. They produce a brown ink which the color sepia is named after. (PBS)When feeding tortoises cuttlefish, it is essential to do so in moderation. It should be offered as a supplement to a balanced diet rather than the primary source of nutrition. Most tortoises require a diet high in fibrous plants, fruits, and vegetables. Cuttlefish should only be given occasionally to avoid an imbalance in their diet. The most common of them all is calcium carbonate. In your home, that’s limescale and it gives water hardness. It’s considered to be good for human health though and it’s supposed to help protect your heart. Many people are accustomed to using Vionate (Sherley’s) which is considerably cheaper, although it does have a higher dosage rate (1/4 teaspoon per kg). The ratio of calcium:phosphorus in Vionate is only 1.4:1, which is sufficient for adult males and non-breeding females, but inadequate for hatchlings, juveniles and egg-laying females, which have an enormous requirement for calcium in the growing shell, bones or eggshells. Therefore if you use Vionate, you must add extra calcium – for example, an equal amount of limestone flour can be mixed in. Other methods of adding calcium are by grating cuttlefish bone onto food; sprinkling on oyster shell grit, available from bird seed suppliers; crushing eggshells onto the food (less effective); or by adding crushed calcium lactate or calcium gluconate tablets. It is even better to use calcium tablets with vitamin D3, which is essential for calcium metabolism. You are then approaching the D3 content of Nutrobal, which is seven times that of Vionate. So what is a cuttlebone? Although called a bone, this material is actually the internal shell of cuttlefish which is actually a mollusk.

N.B. It is advised that Ace High vitamin supplement is only used under the advice of a veterinarian because of the risk of overdosing the tortoise with vitamins. In addition to the natural calcium-rich bones of cuttlefish, your tortoise can get a great deal of nutrition from other sources as well. These sources include plant-based foods, other animals, and the bones of cuttlefish. Keeping your tortoise happy is possible when you use the bones of cuttlefish as calcium supplements. However, these bones should not be used as a sole source of calcium. If your tortoise is in need of additional calcium, you can supplement their diet with other calcium sources, including powdered supplements. Cuttlefish helps shape tortoise’s beak Cuttlefish is a popular food item for many pet tortoises due to its high nutritional value. However, it is important for tortoise owners to be aware of potential risks and side effects associated with feeding their pets cuttlefish. When selecting a supplement it is important to choose one with a high calcium to phosphorous ratio, such as Nutrobal® which has a ratio of 46:1. Other products are available on the market, which contain calcium carbonate. These can be used to provide extra calcium without increasing phosphorous levels. Products such as Nutrobal® do contain other vitamins and minerals and are fine to be used for juveniles and reproductively active females. High calcium content foods should be selected and calcium carbonate can also be used to balance out the diet. Cuttlefish is commonly used for tortoises but should not be relied upon as a calcium source. Ultraviolet light is also important to enable the tortoise to produce vitamin D and relying on dietary sources is not advised until research proves this to be suitable for basking chelonians.Calcium is an essential part of the tortoise’s diet and is vital for even shell growth, to help prevent metabolic bone disease and for general good health and wellbeing. A calcium supplement can be used on food, such as Limestone flour or Pro Rep's 'Calci Dust' which is a phosphorus free calcium powder that can be sprinkled over the food 4-5 times a week. A combination of calcium and UVB aid your tortoise in essential vitamin D3 synthesis. Just break a small portion of the cuttlebone and feed your tortoise directly from your hands. Well, there is a risk of getting bitten. But at least you ensure that the pet is not overfeeding or underfeeding on the calcium. Wear latex gloves as protection. 2. Sprinkling: Cuttlebone, also known as cuttlefish bone, is actually not a bone but rather a shell. This shell comes from the cuttlefish which is a mollusk.

I read that cuttlefish is good for tortoise's so i called along to my local pet shop and purchesed some, iv'e not seen it before, but what he sold me is like an oval shaped slice of white chalky stuff, i put it in with Mr brown, who went absoulutley mad for it, chomping away, my question is should i leave it in with him all the time or should i limit how often i give it to him. Shelters can be provided within indoor or outdoor enclosures such as a house, tunnel, shelter, flower pot or moss hide. This will give a natural hiding place for your tortoise to behave as they would naturally and escape the heat or hide from predators.A report claims that baby tortoises with metabolic bone disease may not make it to life. Even if they survive, the hatchlings grow up with a deformed body and experience premature death. Ideally, tortoises should be fed cuttlefish once every 2-3 weeks. This frequency allows them to benefit from the high calcium content of the cuttlefish while still maintaining a varied diet. Overfeeding cuttlefish can lead to an imbalance in the tortoise's diet, as it is relatively low in other essential nutrients. Therefore, it is best to provide cuttlefish as a supplemental treat rather than a primary source of nutrition. With sufficient calcium in the meals, tortoises do not have to face such problems. Feeding the pets cuttlebones will ensure the healthy growth of the carapace and plastron. In the wild, tortoises have access to a variety of foods and can regulate their intake accordingly. However, when kept as pets, it is crucial for tortoise owners to provide a balanced and varied diet to ensure their nutritional needs are met. Cuttlefish can be included as part of this diet, but it should not be the sole source of nutrition. Scraping: The shell of the cuttlebones are not edible. So, take a sharp knife and scrap away the hard surface.