home made calcium blocks

[TaraMaiden]

Hello,
If Mods think this is in the wrong section, please feel free to move it, thank you!

I have ordered food-grade Calcium Carbonate to make calcium blocks for my tortoise... plenty of info on how to do it, but I only have one youngster (so far!) so won't need to make much...
I have toyed with the idea of adding SPARINGLY some raw white of egg, to aid with binding, but really, just a tiny amount, almost negligible.
Thoughts on this?
I also have some pharma-grade activated charcoal powder, which is wonderful at picking up bacteria and toxins and puling it out of the system... again, tip of a teaspoon, any thoughts on this?

Thanks for any feedback!

 

[Sarah2020]

Whilst calcium essential they only need a tiny bit mixed into fresh green leaves, I also provide cuttlefish which has small bites but it lasts a long time. I have never thought to make my own but make a small one to trial as it could go mouldy in the enclosure.

 

[wellington]

I was always going to make my own and just never have. I know there are great recipes on this forum for it.
I wouldn't add raw egg. It will just go bad. Not sure charcoal would be needed. Too much might not be good for them.
@Kapidolo Farms might know more on this. I'm basically guessing with what I would or wouldn't do.

 

[TaraMaiden]

I was always going to make my own and just never have. I know there are great recipes on this forum for it.
I wouldn't add raw egg. It will just go bad. Not sure charcoal would be needed. Too much might not be good for them.
@Kapidolo Farms might know more on this. I'm basically guessing with what I would or wouldn't do.

I was thinking of egg-white to bind, but then, drying them out in the oven for 6 hours basically enables all and any water content to completely evaporate, so my concern with dampness would only be relevant if the block got rained on; then, yes, I'd probably remove it... good precaution, thanks for that point...

I think activated charcoal would be good in any type of feeding mistake; I'm pretty hot on what weeds I have in my lawn and what plants I'd keep out of reach, so I'm thinking it would be unlikely, but you know... in the event of...

 

[Sarah2020]

Depending on what tortoise you have and how old, humidity is helpful for smooth shell growth hence the comment about damp when you mist. I bought a calcium block once and it had a billion black insects all over it so another thing to consider.

 

[jsheffield]

I give mine eggshells and also shake a bit of opuntia flour on the greens I feed them....

Jamie