Calcium observation

christinaland128

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5 Year Member
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Mar 20, 2014
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Metro Detroit
I came across this picture of my boy from years ago biting the cement.

I’ve observed him over the years bite other strange items such as white landscaping rocks and sidewalk chalk. I spoke to a reptile shop owner that said their tortoise ate drywall.

It became apparent to me that they bite white objects because they are attracted to or seeking calcium.

Whether they are lacking nutrients or just prefer the taste, I don’t know.

Sidewalk chalk, marble landscaping rocks, and apparently drywall all contain some element of calcium such as gypsum (calcium sulfate), and calcite, or calcium magnesium carbonate.

So it’s no surprise they are biting weird things. Pretty cool huh?
 

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janevicki

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Oct 3, 2012
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Near Disneyland
Thanks for your observation. I just gave my turtles some cuttle bone and some egg shells. Both being white. Both items looks like they where chewed on and trampled by them. Thanks again.
 

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