For all the tort experts. Why do you use things like nutrobal, Limestone flour etc etc?? In the wild they would eat weeds etc as they should be doing in captivity, so if we provide the same as they get in the wild why are you also using supplements as I have read on some posts every single day?? I don't want any links, just enlighten me please.

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From what I understand, the soil in the med is much richer in calcium than ours which is passed on to the plants. Plus the UV is much stronger.

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1.0.0 Bengal Cat (Leon) - nut case
0.1.0 Siamese Cat (Sasha)
0.0.2 Marginated Tortoises (Chunk & Bean)

I'd give this thread an hour...maybe two.

The genral feeling is that in the UK levels of sun are much less than in the med/tropics/deserts so they need additional supplimentation.

I fail to see the point of nutrobal which supplies only trace elements which are naturally found in the food (even supermarket salad).

Calcium i can understand to an extent but Tbh there isnt much need.

If the sun IS to blame then surly it is D3 that needs to be added to the diet and not Ca.

There again its just the "tort crew" doing things that make little sence to keep themselves and eachother happy.

Vivs are fine (if modded) and so is shop bought salad. As are certain pellets to some species...

Just the overwhelming attitude again..."Do as i do or incur the wrath of the TT."

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Isn't D3 in Nutrobal? Supermarket salad you can almost garantee would have been sprayed with pestisides/insectisides - not good for torts. No comment on the rest don't want to start an argument we have seen so many tmes before.

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1.0.0 Bengal Cat (Leon) - nut case
0.1.0 Siamese Cat (Sasha)
0.0.2 Marginated Tortoises (Chunk & Bean)

Thanks for the input. opinions welcome. Lets try not to antagonize anyone as I don't want to lock my own thread, its just strange one year peeps are saying every few days the next everyday.

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hardly an expert, but as a general rule of thumb, everyday is for hatchlings and young torts to help provide them with enough calcium to grow healthy bones... three times a week is more than adequate for adult tortoises.

Store bought veg doesn't have half the nutrients in it as nutrobal, lettuce provides very little nutritional value..but is great in summer i find as ahydrating treat.

Also as ben, (i think it was) said.majority of veg in stores is grown using pesticides n artificial fertilizers etc.. which i don't personally like to use with my animals.

As mentioned the uv levels within britain are much lower than that within th e med... Yes nutrobal contains vitamin D3..now some people argue that supplements aren't needed as artificial uvb lights help the tortoise to synthesise vitamin D.. and if the uvb lights are high quality and chaged regularly this can be said to be true. But how can one know if they ahve a deffective bulb..if all appears fine?

for me it's an ease of mind... i know my tortoises are getting all the vitamins n good ness i can provide.. nthat's good enough for me


Katie

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Today I have read that some are providing supplements everyday, could these potentially cause more harm than good in the long term.??

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I will be OFFLINE and out of the country from 12th October 2008 until April 2009 due to work. Hope you don't all miss me too much.

Any FORUM related matters please PM another Moderator. If you need to contact me personally please email there may be a delay in answering.

See i was concerned about overdosing on the vitamins too until recently. As suppliments like reptavite have warnings on the back (or used to when i used it).

But apparantly the hatchlings need it to help their bones grow n their shells harden.

For adults i'd say daily nutrobal is uneccessary. but limestone flour and/or access to a source of calcium is a must.

Mine have a very light limestone sprinkling every day, a limestone block in their enclosures..n cuttlefish too. My tortoises seem to dose themselves..if they feel that they need more they'll nibble on the block or the cuttlefish..if they don't they leave them.

HTH although i'm sure Tams,phoebe or wizzasmum may be better equipped to explain the necessity of suppliments in captive torts.

Katie

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appologise for my first post, i had just read the other thread about (veguely) suppliments and came in with a head of steam,

The nutriants in weeds are very simlar to the ones in supermarkets. Infact supermarkets are usually containing added vits/minerals for our benifit.

As for pesticides/insectasides i dont like them on my food either so buy orgasmic (organic lol).

The minerals in nutrobal are very small amounts so are usually of little consiquence, but when overused they can damage internal organs beyond repair and they can cause more notable problems such as skin irritation (ex-ma) and eye soreness.

The key thing is calcium, it can only be used with D3 so i find the best way (with my other reptiles, and this does apply to torts) is to give an excess of Ca (in the form od CaCO3) and a regulated supply of D3. Thereby ensuring strong bone growth (and shell ) but not overusing and causing lumps and bumps, or artery plaque

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How do u buy just D3 on it's own im intrigued to try it now lol



Katie

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