Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering what company makes the best calcium and vitamins out there. I have used several kinds and my torts seem to take a bit and if they taste the calcium they walk away and don't eat that day. The same with the vitamins. So I was wondering what kind do you guys use?

I don't have a tort just yet, I'm expecting very soon...
and gathering supplies including calcium/D3 supplement and vitamins so I'm very interested in this question too.

May I ask what name-brands your animals have shunned completely? (I could maybe avoid those from the start.) What species do you keep?

Calcium sources are varied, I try to stick to unrefined sources such as: ground oyster shell (very cheap at Feed stores), cuttle bones, as well as packaged types such as Rep-Cal. I hear that a form of Calcium is used in the baking industry, by commercial bakers of white bread, but I have not had time to check it out, might be worth a try. Ground limestone, Calcium carbonate is said to be good. I also put a lot of Calcium into the soil that I grow tortoise food in, on the theory (unsubstantiated by me) that the food will be Calcium rich.

I've never run into the problem of tort's not eating because of the supplements, however I can imagine some pickier guys may turn there noses at it.

I wanted to add that when choosing a calcium supplement, choose one Without Vitamin D added. Why? Well, when to much calcium is supplemented, any excess will pass through in the feces. Unless there is enough Vitamin D3 available to absorb all of the Calcium, in which excesses will cause problems when deposited around the body.

If you use natural sunlight / proper bulbs then you never have to worry about over supplementation of calcium because the tortoise can regulate the Vitamin D and calcium absorption.

I know it doesn't answer you question, but thought it may interest you

I have a 3 red foots, 2 dwarf cherry heads, 5 sulcatas, 2 leopards, 1 greek, and 3 eqyptians. I have had all of them for over a year and never had any problems but just found this forum and figured I could get a few questions I was wondering about answered. If you have any questions feel free to emal me direct and I will be glad to help. I've been playing with torts for about 7 years now.