Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok i know calcium is important for turtles so that deformities dont occur but where do these turtles get calcium in the wild. carnivors get calcium from the bones of there prey (ex Snakes) but where do herbavors get their calcium? they cant go to walmart and get a gallon of milk.
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1.1.3 Common Mud Turtles
0.0.2 R.E.S.
0.0.1 Map Turtle
1.2 Russian Tortoises
0.1.1 Gulfcost/Three Toed Boxturtles
0.1 Eastern Box Turtle
1.0 Hamsters
3.0 Dogs
2.3 Family

A wild a boxie's diet consists of greens loaded with calcium. Ounce for ounce, the common dandelion has more calcium than milk. Most of a boxies diet are calcium-rich; including slugs, earthworms, and berries.

Calcium is but one link in a Boxies health. The other two elements are Vitamin D3 aquired from Ultraviolet B light, and Phosphorus. An imbalance in the link will cause :

- too much D3, calcium, or phosphorus**Hypercalcemia

-a lack of D3, calcium, or phosphorus****Hypocalcemia

So too much phosphorus can throw the balance off as well as too little D3, or too little access to Ultra B wavelengths.

Just when we think we have it; nature throws in a switch.

Many foods touted for their calcium content also contain calcium oxalates that bind calcium. These foods include spinach, carrots, collards, chards, and a few other thick leafy greens. Calcium oxalates render all dietary calcium unavailable for boxie use. It binds the dietary calcium in foods and in nutritional supplements. So use the foods with Oxalates very sparingly...or avoid them.
Ric

Box turtles would get their calcium from a variety of different sources, probably in small but sufficient amounts: earthworms, snails, slugs, wild mushrooms, different fruits, bones of carrion (baby birds fallen from nest), etc.
Personally, in the case of Easterns, I have some doubts about the reported rates of consumption of leafy greens. Forest dwelling,individuals would not necessarily have greens available to them throughout their habitat.
Historically, dandelions would not have been a food source for them, so I'm not inclined to cite that as an example.
Stephanie

I have kept box turtles since I was a kid and they have always eaten almost exclusively a salad diet, a recent acquisition will not eat anything but bugs, worms. I have tried all the fruit’ veggies I have used before and even mixed them with roaches and chopped worm, he picks all the bugs/worms out and leaves the salad. Since this happens I have just been feeding him dusted worms and gut loaded roaches. Will this diet cause any problems I should assess before they show up?
thanks
Ryan

A varied and balanced diet is certainly the ideal to strive for: the proper use of supplements is good in a situation such as yours, but I'd keep trying to sneak more variety in there. Be patient and persistent.
Stephanie

Just save the shells when you boil eggs. Let dry, use a rolling pin & crush to a powder. Dust your veggies very "lightly" twice a month. It should be more than enough. But if it has varied diet, I think it'll be just fine.

It is hostorical knowledge that turtles get calcium from cows. They crawl under cows and bite on their cow nipples. They then suck the milk out. I have seen this myself. I have seen a cow with eight turtles dangling from its nipples.

Now wouldn't that be a sight to behold. Very funny.
Stephanie

Now THAT is a Kodak moment!!!! Would make a good milk commercial. I wonder if they had the little white milk mustache when they were done??

np