Bulk Calcium? Calcium Carbonate vs Lime vs Reptile Calcium vs Oyster Shells??

Texastravis

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Trying to figure out bulk calcium options and I am confusing myself.... Agriculture Lime or "aglime", typically used as a soil amendment and is SUPER CHEAP at <$10 for 50 pounds, appears to basically be pulverized limestone which I always thought is calcium carbonate. I have been using this stuff for awhile but have an unexplainable illness in one of my baby tortoises. As a result, I am second guessing myself on calcium. I cannot find anywhere on the internet where anyone is using aglime as a calcium supplement for reptiles, horses, etc. Why I wonder?

You can also get food grade calcium carbonate for somewhat cheap. I am not sure what the difference is between this and "aglime". I figured both were simply pulverized limestone but maybe I am mistaken.

Then you have Oyster shells from the feed store. This is a common calcium supplement for horses and livestock but I have a buddy who had a large tortoise die and when he did a DIY autopsy he found a bunch of oyster shells in her like rocks and it seems like she was unable to process them. I believe he was sprinkling these shells on their food. I could still use these cheap bags I will just need to run them through my grain mill first to turn them to powder.

Lastly you have reptile calcium. Is this just not repackaged calcium carbonate? I always thought so.
 

Maro2Bear

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There’s a section in here on using AgLime for your own home made calcium blocks


One of the paragraphs..

First, you need to decide on the calcium source. Food-grade calcium carbonate(CaCO3) is one good option, sometimes called Limestone flour (available e.g on Amazon). Another, more affordable and more easily available source is so called Agricultural Lime (CaCO3) - I got it at our local feed store for $8 for a 50lb bag! Agricultural lime is produced by pulverizing limestone or chalk, and is commonly used as a soil amendment. Please make sure to read the label CAREFULLY: you want to make sure that it not so-called hydrated lime, that it does not contain Magnesium Carbonate, and that it does not have any other ingredients and impurities in significant amounts.​
 

turtlesteve

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Agricultural lime will simply be held to much lower purity or contamination standards. So even if it’s ok most of the time, not sure I would be comfortable using it. Food grade is cheap enough that I would have to have a whole herd of sulcatas to care about how much it’s costing me.

I prefer cuttlebone but it’s impractical in bulk.
 

Texastravis

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Anyone have a good source for bulk food grade then? I will check my bag carefully and see what I have been using.
 

turtlesteve

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There are various small businesspeople that buy it bulk and repackage it. I bought 5 or 10 lbs (don’t remember where from) and it was $2 per lb plus shipping. First hit on google was Dudadiesel.com
 

Kapidolo Farms

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Ground calcium carbonate for food has been analyzed and certified for use in food. It has a few impurities, all of which are below what the FDA suggests is acceptable for human consumption.

If it fails to meet that criteria it is used in other applications.

https://kapidolofarms.com/product-category/foods-diet-items/calcium/. suitable for use in organic foods.
 

Lokkje

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My leopard is crazy about the moringa and the mulberry from Will. He eats everything I get from Kapidolo Farms and it is a nice, safe high quality addition to his diet (his fav is not a high calcium but is the nettle). It is a win-win to get food that is higher in calcium to feed your tortoise and then throw a few cuttlebones into his housing in case he needs more. Personally, because I use so little, I supplement with a small amount of reptile product calcium carbonate in the food once to twice a week plus the cuttlebone and the free choice food mixes. My leopard was appearing to be a failure to thrive and was a very picky eater until I started getting Kapidolo Farm products. He shot from under 50 grams for months to now over 200 grams rapidly. Because of this I like the idea of both getting a higher calcium level in the food in providing supplements in the food plus the cuttlebone.
 
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