Calcium supplements
- Thread starter sandip91
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2014
- Messages
- 29,066
- Location (City and/or State)
- South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
Is it ever outdoors?
If it receives actual sunlight for a few hours every day or so, maybe not.
Indoors you will need to supplement and you'll need a good source of UVB from a light bulb.
If it receives actual sunlight for a few hours every day or so, maybe not.
Indoors you will need to supplement and you'll need a good source of UVB from a light bulb.
Sunlight provides D3....
If you feed the tortoise calcium-rich good then you don't need to supplement calcium too much. I sprinkle just a little pinch of calcium over the food a couple times a week. Because all my tortoises go outside daily, I use calcium without vitamin D.
There are too many variables to answer this as a simple yes or no.
Generally, it is a good idea to offer a tiny pinch of calcium once or twice a week if your tortoise is eating a good, high fiber, weedy diet and get outside for sunshine regulalry. If you feed grocery store greens and your tortoise is indoors most of the year, then 3-4 times a week might be a good idea. If you offer cuttlebone and your tortoise munches on it regularly, then maybe supplement a little less.
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2013
- Messages
- 10,877
Screens and Windows cut down the amount of UV rays coming in .Thank you guys .. Well the enclosure is indoors but it's placed next to a window where sun light is abundant everydayit should be good then ..
Screens cut down the amount of uv rays for tortoises. Window glass/glass, and most clear plastics, block the uv which is what an animal,(tortoise or human) needs to produce D3 to allow the calcium to be absorbed by the body. Without the calcium AND proper lighting your tortoise will suffer.
Beautiful tortoise you have there by the way, just going off topic a little. Thanks for the picture. We love pictures here on the forum!
A cute tort!
Please give him/her daily soaks in warm water.As far as calcium is concerned, members who posted here have answered your question, I presume.
And a very warm welcome to the forum!
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2013
- Messages
- 10,877
Some torts apear to drink when they get their bath , it helps them go poo more regularly , and some people be leave that it keeps the moisture in their body's more equal . But good question .Thank you
Hi. Soaks avoid/stop pyramiding, which has become a PHOBIA, here at the forum.Thank you
(Don't mean to scare you, so please do not misunderstand me). Soaks also keep torts hydrated.
From my un-biological understanding often soaking will offer the opportunity for the tortoise to actually mouth drink water as well as giving the tortoise the forced situation of absorbing water through their very porous skin. Hydration is of upmost importance with a captive raised tortoise. I'm figuring you know why the water needs to be warm. The "forced" activity is what brings on the dumping of intestine contents. This is good. An empty gut tract a tortoise, is a happy tortoise. Feed after a soaking to give the food the best opportunity to digest the course foods that it's eating.Thank you
As usual, I'm hoping this information helps you out with keeping your tortoise healthy and strong please for you and your fortress the " stickys" at the top of the section for your tortoise
Ask questions, get answers, give answers to questions asked.
Cowboy Ken
Wow! As for soaking I can't believe I left out this MOST IMPORTANT POINT; Always use a non-food area sink. I'm lucky with a sink in the laundry room that ONLY is used for soaking tortoises. No kitchen or bathroom actives take place. Think about, would you want a kitchen sink that a tortoise crapped in? Plus they're full of nasty gut, "cuties" that we don't need in us !
Cowboy Ken
Cowboy Ken
I've often seen Oli drink whilst being soaked.
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2012
- Messages
- 5,173
- Location (City and/or State)
- South of Southern California, but not Mexico
I agree about the importance of hydration, however reptiles (which includes tortoises) have about the most un-porous (Not water permeable) skin of any vertebrate animal. However they do flush out their cloaca (a$$hole) area and that is like a person using a bidet. And that is an important function for them.
