help.turtle questions.

[xander]

Hi, Just seeing if anyone uses or has used cuttlefish in their turtle tanks as opposed to plaster of paris? Ive heard that plaster of paris isnt that great to use. These tanks arent little by the way, they are filled to 3/4 with 2,400 litres of water. ta.

 

[cadwallader]

how big is you tank?
what are you trying to achieve?

 

[novek]

????

 

[gecko-mad]

Hi, Just seeing if anyone uses or has used cuttlefish in their turtle tanks as opposed to plaster of paris? Ive heard that plaster of paris isnt that great to use. These tanks arent little by the way, they are filled to 3/4 with 2,400 litres of water. ta.

I dont get it, what do you mean?

 

[xander]

Sorry for the confusion. They are in a zoo. They are turtles that are recupperating from carapace,plastron fractures etc.Basically I am thinking of using cuttlefish in the tanks for the turtles to nibble on for any needed minerals instead of plonking a calcium block or plaster of paris in the tanks.

 

[cris]

I would assume they are trying to make it more basic. I have wondered what is the best way to do this other than using tap water for water changes.

 

[-Peter]

What sort of turtles are they. Why would they "nibble" on the cuttlefish bone?
The plaster of paris block is to change the water Ph not to give calcium to the turtles. To do that they need to be fed a correct diet and be able to metabolise the calcium. This is done through a number of processes that require other minerals and/or UV.

 

[Kitah]

I've given cuttlefish to my shortneck before; I used a knife to peel the back off and threw it in and he does actually eat it. He used to like it more than he does now. I've never used plaster of paris as quite a few people recommended against it, but I have no reasoning to back that up