How often do I add calcium supplement?
- Thread starter Terrapin
- Start date
- Status
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2012
- Messages
- 1,484
What does your tortoises diet consist of?
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2012
- Messages
- 1,484
I would offer your tortoise a wider variety of food. What type of tortoise do you have? I feed mine grass and weeds, cactus, collard/mustard greens, cilantro, spring mix, mazuri & zoo med tortoise food, and also a variety of fruit. I have a Redfoot, so they can have fruit, other tortoises should only get it rarely as a treat. I still usually supplement calcium 2x weekly, but only a very small amount. That is my personal regimen, maybe a more experienced member can also offer some advise. When you feed a broader variety, you fill the void that one food may have by offering others to make up for it.
theelectraco said:
Tusya is a Russian tort. I have had him all of three days. So do you feed your redfoot " grass and weeds, cactus, collard/mustard greens, cilantro, spring mix, mazuri & zoo med tortoise food, and also a variety of fruit" with every feeding?
My intention was to feed him different mixes of things every few weeks. I have calcium powder that I use for my toads that's good for all reptiles and amphibians. I was just wondering how often to use it.
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2012
- Messages
- 1,484
I don't mix ALL those things at the same time, but usually there's at least 3 different things in his food bowl, plus he grazes in his outdoor pen. Today he spent the day outside, plus I fed him cactus, spring mix, squash, and zoo med pellets.
There are different ways to achieve variety. Here is a good article on the subject.
jaizei said:
I appreciate the information on balance. But what I am seeking is info on calcium supplementation.
I intend to give Tusya a diversified diet, but will that eliminate the need for supplements?
In my opinion, if you are feeding an adult tortoise foods high in calcium, there is no need to supplement.
I offer it weekly and also he has a cuttlebone in his enclosure. Some weeks he doesn't touch the calcium powdered greens, other weeks he finishes it off. Same with the cuttlebone.
For an adult male Russian, I would feed a good varied calcium rich diet and not supplement at all, other than offering a cuttle bone. For an egg producing female or growing baby, I'd use a small pinch twice a week sprinkled over greens.
Ours never had any interest in the cuttlebone. I sprinkle a tiny bit of the Fluker's on his salad about twice a week. Sometimes I use the Total Tortoise Nutrition from Carolina Pet Supply.
Calcium and other supplements are insurance against poor nutrition- they can not make up for a bad diet, and overuse causes problems (this applies to humans, babies, dogs, etc. as well.)
If you are feeding a healthy, balanced, varied meal, you should not need ANY supplements, but many people (including me) add a small pinch of a good general purpose supplement every week or so. I make mine with the recipe here- https://sites.google.com/site/tortoiselibrary/nutrition/nutrients
If you are feeding a healthy, balanced, varied meal, you should not need ANY supplements, but many people (including me) add a small pinch of a good general purpose supplement every week or so. I make mine with the recipe here- https://sites.google.com/site/tortoiselibrary/nutrition/nutrients
Hey look, that article references the TNT supplement.
"There are several good supplements available, such as the excellent TNT (Total Nutrition for Tortoises), but you can make up an easy-to-use mix of fiber, calcium, and vitamins if you would rather not buy it."
"There are several good supplements available, such as the excellent TNT (Total Nutrition for Tortoises), but you can make up an easy-to-use mix of fiber, calcium, and vitamins if you would rather not buy it."
- Status
