African Sulcata (3yr) Which calcium Supplements is best

[bdf3077]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone had sound advice as to which Calcium supplement i should be giving my Tortoise, we have been using (NUTROBAL) since we got him but his shell is going soft underneath so im assuning it may be the worng supplement. we have recently replaced his light with a 160 w exo terra daylight flood lamp, so it cant be that he is not geting enough sun?

Any help would be most apprecaited.

Kind regards

[BigBaz]

as far as i know the et bulb u have is not a uvb bulb. so if thats the only bulb you have on him id be going out and buying a uvb bulb. you can get the tube bulbs it should be 10.0 or get a compact one again 10.0

[bdf3077]

Hi and thank you very much for your reply. below is the details of the bulb im using, i was told that this is UVa / B????

is this buld sufficient?

regards

EXO TERRA SOLAR GLO MERCURY VAPOUR LAMP The Exo Terra Solar Glo Sun Simulating Lamp is the solution to one of the most important aspects of keeping reptiles and amphibians, providing the benefits of natural sunlight. The proper balance of ultraviolet light (including UVA and UVB), visual light and infrared light (heat) in one easy-to-install bulb makes the Exo Terra Solar Glo the choice of professional breeders. The Solar Glo is a full spectrum light with carefully tuned peaks to ensure appetite, activity, brilliant colours, and calcium absorption through Vitamin D3 production, and above all to prevent metabolic bone disease.

The Exo Terra Solar Glo is available in two wattages, 125 W and 160 W. Exo Terra refrained from developing lower wattages as lower wattages simply do not generate enough heat for these self-ballasted bulbs to work properly, making them unstable and unreliable.

[kellysmith1976]

Hi, I havent got a sulcata, I have got leopards,
And im using the same Bulb as you the 160w, Combined Heat/UV.. Self ballasting Bulb...
I use nutrobal twice a week on thier , And every day i use calcium sprinkled on their food..
You can buy calcium powder, What i do is use a cheese grater, and grate cuttlefish over the food..
I also have a cuttlefish bone in their enclosure, in case they want a nibble!

[bdf3077]

Hi Kelly,

Thanks so much for your help, I have sent my other half down to the pet shop to get a few cuttlebones right away.

We feed him mainly orchard grass from the states as we cant get much fresh grass now its winter, is this ok, we sometimes give him kale but had to cut down on that about a year ago as wee fed him to much of it and he stared pyrimiding! do you have any other suggestions of food types we can give him taht are easily accessible?

once again thanks loads for all your help.

[kellysmith1976]

As many weeds as you can find!... My leopards are currently eating Plantain leaves, Dandy leaves.. And ready grass...
If i get stuck, i buy Florrette crispy salad, which contains lambs lettuce, raddichio and my leopards cant get enough of it...
I think Tesco do one as well, I always make sure whatever mix i buy, it doesnt contain iceburg...

Kelly

[kellysmith1976]

I think this website is really handy as it tells you the do's and donts and it has a huge list of edible plants

The Sulcata and Leopard Tortoise

Kelly

[Grond]

With regards to calcium...

Nutrobal is a vitamin and mineral supplement, not a calcium supplement.

I dust all of my tortoises food with limestone flour(which is calcium carbonate) on a daily basis and only use nutrobal once or twice a week(you can give too many of some vitamins).

Get some calcium powder/limestone flour for everyday use. I do also have cuttlefish available and my torts eat this sporadically as they need it.

[BigBaz]

yeh that bulb is spot on i thought i was a different et bulb. the advise givin above is spot on . i dont see u having any proplems if you follow that.

[bdf3077]

Originally Posted by Grond

With regards to calcium...

Nutrobal is a vitamin and mineral supplement, not a calcium supplement.

I dust all of my tortoises food with limestone flour(which is calcium carbonate) on a daily basis and only use nutrobal once or twice a week(you can give too many of some vitamins).

Get some calcium powder/limestone flour for everyday use. I do also have cuttlefish available and my torts eat this sporadically as they need it.

can you advise where i can get this limestone flour? I live in London and find it extreamly dificult to get hold of things locally(ish)

regards

darren