- Joined
- Apr 13, 2012
- Messages
- 335
dmmj said:cuttle bone should be offered 24/7 you can't overdoes they pass what ever they don't need.
Madkins007 said:There are problems associated with too much calcium. The bones tend to become more brittle (they need the right balance of phosphorous to counteract this), key nutrients like magnesium and iron are being blocked by the calcium, and so forth. High blood calcium levels are also hard on the internal organs. The problems are increased if there is not enough UVB to help absorb the mineral, so more of it is dumped into the bloodstream.
I am NOT saying that these are likely in most situations, but if you are using a high-calcium diet and supplements (like cuttlebone) without a good balance of phosphorous, iron, etc., then there is a bit of a risk. The risk gets higher if the tortoise is dehydrated.
You cannot depend on the tortoise to regulate this on its own. Tortoises almost all come from areas where the available foods are low in nutrients and calories for at least a chunk of the year and they are programmed to take advantage of times of plenty by gorging themselves on it.
So, bottom line- moderation is a almost always a good idea.
Madkins007 said:Considering Boah's and Terry Allen Hall's replies, I want to clarify something. The main part of my earlier reply was directed to the title of the thread- "Can a sulcata have too much calcium".
I TRIED to answer it by saying "Yes, but not in usual situations'. I see I missed my mark. Thanks guys for chiming up.