All Turtles Message Board

trtlduv · Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 5:19 pm Post subject: So Thankful!

I can't express to you all how helpful you have been to me this last week! I wanted to register and atleast post a big THANK YOU! My son wanted a turtle and I never knew I would love her this much! Snappy is like another child for me, and I want to be sure she gets the best care. I wanted you to know that the employees at the pet store here are of absolutely no help!! The lady told me last night to feed him spinach when I went in to buy some anacharis, I told her I thought spinach was bad for RES and she insisted it was fine... then I checked this website today and it says to avoid spinach, that it blocks calcium absorption. So anyway, I do have a question about cuttlebone. Is it necessary to supplement with it, and in the nutrition section of All Turtles, it says to "remove the hard backing", what is that? And how do I remove it? Any input would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!
Megan
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shade & sweetwater!

dixieee · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 4:58 am Post subject:

welcome to the board Megan Very Happy

glad u found the info u need here. cuttlebone is good as a calcium supplement but since it's made for birds, it has a hard outer layer that should be removed and then u have to cut it into small pieces for the turtle to eat.

i didn't use one b4 but that's what i read about it.

good luck Smile

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Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:52 am Post subject:

Look at this picture, it is the hard backing of the cuttlebone, the other side is soft and powdery, it scratches off easily, you can pry the hard stuff off with a small flat screw driver or maybe the tip of a dull knife, just be careful you don't cut yourself. Very Happy

http://tyl2000.free.fr/photos/seiche.JPG
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trtlduv · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 11:33 am Post subject:

How much do you think I should give her? Is there a better calcium supplement out there? Like a multi-vitamin?
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shade & sweetwater!

deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1227

Just break off a chunk and float it in the water. It is super easy. Cuttle bone is from the Cuttle fish, ugly critter but the bone is a natural source of calcium so of course your turtles body processes it very well.

I sure am glad you didn't feed the spinach. Sometimes a turtles worst enemy is uninformed pet store personel. But I try to not balme them. How could they truly learn about each and every animal they carry ? I do wish they could do better though.

trtlduv · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 12:04 pm Post subject:

I don't blame them either, I just wish if they didn't know, they wouldn't suggest anything. Can you believe I actually printed it out where this site has foods to avoid and took in to give her? Hope that's not rude, just wanted to make sure she didn't tell anyone else to feed their RES spinach. I'm so glad for this website!!
Megan
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shade & sweetwater!

deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1227

Don't worry, pet stores around here cringe when they see me coming. I go equipt with care sheets and if I don't like how they are caring for the animals I have been known for turning them in. I am mean and nasty Laughing

No seriously, that is great you took the information in. Now she will be better equipt to answer someone elses questions. Sad to say the surviability rate for turtles is only 10%. Most of that is due to misinformation. Most of the time if someone were informed as to the exact cost, life span and needs of a turtle they would not buy one to begin with. Then many of the poor things die from starvation usually at no fault of the owner but misinformation from the petstore.

I am actually not to far from you. I live in South Western Montana and I regularly patrol from Missoula to Helena and Bozeman. One of my son's lives in Pocatello so I have been know to stop around there too.

Welcome aboard

trtlduv · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 2:03 pm Post subject:

Oh, Montana is so beautiful! I've had friends there too, in Belgrade and Bozeman. I don't think I'll ever leave Idaho though! I have a twin sister who lives in Pocatello so I frequent there quite often. When I feed Snappy veggies, like carrots, do I give her an amount the size of her head? Is that enough? What about the anacharis, how much do you think is a serving size? ... OMG, I don't want to starve her!!
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shade & sweetwater!

deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1227

As far as veggies go, just let her graze. Turtles will and do overeat on the protiens but rarely on the veggies oh and for a treat give her an apple slice or a grape once a week. You won't starve her. Turtles can go for weeks without food and when they hibernate it is longer than that. I have 5 females in hibernation right now in an outside pond. It is costing me a fortune to heat the bugger enough to keep it from freezing but well temps are critical. Anyway these gals won't eat until spring. On nice days, yea I know what you are thinking, but bright sunny days. I put pellets in the water and fish but they are not interested.

trtlduv · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 2:36 pm Post subject:

Will she eat the grape whole or nibble at it? Or do I try to cut it into little chunks? Wow, that is so cool you have a pond for them to hibernate in! I would love to do that! My son and I just bought our first house and it's not a real big yard, but someday I would love to be able to have a set up outdoors for her. Do you have to worry about other animals getting in? Or is it fenced in? There's a lot of wildlife in Montana! Like I said, so beautiful!
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shade & sweetwater!

trtlduv · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 4:45 pm Post subject:

Forgot to Thank You, Stray, for the pic... that helps a lot! And geez, if it doesn't sound like you know me.... I will try hard not to cut myself, although it doesn't always work! Very Happy

Thanks again!
Megan
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shade & sweetwater!

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:06 am Post subject:

You're welcome Very Happy

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