I think it'll be hard to give you exact requirements.

I use RepCal Calcium wit D3.

The instructions say approximately one-half tablespoon of the powder with one pound of food.

I'm guessing that your little tort would need a very long time to consume one pound of food. And that it would be very hard to accurately measure the amount of powder necessary to properly dose the few grams of food that your tortoise eats at one time.

I do this: I keep a pair of very small leopards indoors year-round, except for a few hours of sun and grazing per week in warm weather. I give them a varied diet of weeds, greens, veggies, hay, and Pretty Pets pellets. The Pretty Pets have calcium, d3 and other vitamins, but not enough for the whole diet. I lightly dust their other foods with the RepCal. And by this I make the food items look like something that had been covered in fine layer of dust. Not like something that had been battered up for frying :->. I don't do this at every meal, and I use a little less when they are getting sunshine. I may substitute the RepCal with plain calcium for some meals when they are getting sunshine.

I also use low-UVB fluorescent lights on the enclosure.

Excess D3 can be a problem (from what I've read). I think the tortoise's body can eliminate excess calcium unless it is also getting excess D3. So go lightly with the calcium/d3 powder, give him good foods, and pay attention to the condition of his shell. Give him sunshine when possible. Also follow the general rules for proper tortoise keeping: proper temps, hydration, moist hide, etc.

[ Hide Replies ]

• Calcium Supplement - zookeepnhippie, Sat Feb 18 10:34:50 2006
• RE: Calcium Supplement - bradtort, Sun Feb 19 12:33:51 2006
• RE: Calcium Supplement - melgrj7, Tue Feb 21 21:17:40 2006
• sorry for all the typos in last post, long day n/p - melgrj7, Tue Feb 21 21:18:43 2006