cuttlebone, should it have salt in it?

Hi, I just ordered some cuttlebone to give to our Russian tortoise. I didn't realize that it would be 5% salt... it does seem to be more for birds. Is the salt just part of the fact that it's from the sea or is it an additive the tortoise shouldn't have? Thanks!

I would check the packaging when you get it. It shouldn't have any additives.

It might simply be because it's from the sea that the salt content seems high. If it looks like there's additives then don't use it.

Cuttlebones are only sold for birds as far as I can make out. I have seen coloured ones which I wouldn't use. Plain untreated only.

Lobsterine said:

Hi, I just ordered some cuttlebone to give to our Russian tortoise. I didn't realize that it would be 5% salt... it does seem to be more for birds. Is the salt just part of the fact that it's from the sea or is it an additive the tortoise shouldn't have? Thanks!

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Good question : that's why for 16 years , I've been feeding my torts egg shells that go through a coffee grinder !

I've seen cuttlebone shaped bird supplements that were NOT actually cuttlebones!
Just pressed powder.
Can you give us a photo? Are you certain that it is actually a bone?

It comes from the ocean and smells very fishy, so it stands to reason it would be salty. I've never given this a thought. But then, we have salt licks for cows, horses and deer, little wheels of salt for hamsters, I don't know why a bit of salt wouldn't be beneficial for a tortoise.

I have never thought about this either. However, don't most tortoise come from areas surrounded by salt water? The salt gets every place, even on the grasses/weeds the torts would be eating. So, my thought would be it's not going to be a problem. I just wouldn't start using the salt shaker over their food.

thank you for all the replies! It looks like it has a bit of a fossil-like pattern on the back so I'm tempted to say it's the real thing. It also smells fishy..... not overpoweringly, but fishy.

Yep, thats a cuttlefish bone. Our sully will sit and eat one large cuttlefish bone in one sitting. Break some piece off and offer to your torts. Good luck

thanks!

Here's our Sully in mid cuttlebone attack!

Mine will very often ignore one for weeks.
Months even.
Then one day, they'll chomp two of them in an hour.
Go figure.

JoesMum said:

Cuttlebones are only sold for birds as far as I can make out. I have seen coloured ones which I wouldn't use. Plain untreated only.

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Actually they do market towards turtles and tortoises.

Maverick said:

Actually they do market towards turtles and tortoises.

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But they're much cheaper in the bird department

Yvonne G said:

But they're much cheaper in the bird department

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Agreed.... I was just pointing out that they are marketed for more than just birds.

they're even cheaper at the feed store $0.25 apiece

I don't think my adult Russian has ever even touched hers. But the hatchling tried it yesterday.
I do always have one in the enclosures but usually I just scrape some off with a knife to put a little bit on the food.

Maverick said:

Agreed.... I was just pointing out that they are marketed for more than just birds.

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I don't think I have ever found this to be the case in the UK then

dmmj said:

they're even cheaper at the feed store $0.25 apiece

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Wow, what kind of feed store? I would love to find them that cheap.

wellington said:

Wow, what kind of feed store? I would love to find them that cheap.

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Or you could just buy cuttlefish at the fish market. They taste really good and you get the bones. Maybe some seafood restaurant could give you some

domagoj said:

Or you could just buy cuttlefish at the fish market. They taste really good and you get the bones. Maybe some seafood restaurant could give you some

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That's too much work, having to clean the cuttlefish. It's an option though