Making your own Powder Calcium

[LizMarie]

I forgot who I was talking to that said they took Cuttle Bones and grinded them up until they became powder and placed them in a small dish so a gecko can regulate their own calcium.

Does this sound like a good idea? I have Calcium Plus and while it said that he has everything I get worried and would like to have plain calcium in there just incase she feels that she needs some plus I buy it all the time for my birds.

 

[BGalloway]

My mother had them for her birds as a calcium supplement/enrichment/tool to wear down their beaks. I don't think grinding them up and giving them to geckos would be a problem but I'd try searching for the nutritional value of cuttlefish bones, just to check the average level of phosphorus and other minerals. A farmer supply store might sell plain calcium powder, for people who mix their own feed, but probably in larger doses than you want to buy.
You can find plain calcium for reptiles in most stores, these are just alternatives.

 

[sitting_duck]

I don't understand why you don't just buy the commerical calcium powder, it works great.

I forgot who I was talking to that said they took Cuttle Bones and grinded them up until they became powder and placed them in a small dish so a gecko can regulate their own calcium.

Does this sound like a good idea? I have Calcium Plus and while it said that he has everything I get worried and would like to have plain calcium in there just incase she feels that she needs some plus I buy it all the time for my birds.

 

[LizMarie]

I don't understand why you don't just buy the commerical calcium powder, it works great.

I know it does because I've used it for a few years. I use Calcium Plus now and just wanted to make sure Lana was getting everything that she needs since calcium plus is just for dusting and I don't have any plain calcium in the tank. I was looking for a cheaper alternative since I already have a bunch of cuttle bone instead of going out and buying an overpriced jar of calcium at a pet store.

 

[jakemyster44]

here is what alot of breeders use, it is put in the mealworm bowl...
http://www.kvvet.com/KVVet/search_results.asp?mscssid=2876913C69634081A789BFA26CDF34F9&Gift=false&GiftID=
I havn't used it yet, but plan to soon. I hear it is reccomended to put in a small dish of pure calcium as well with egg laying females.

 

[LeapinLizards]

Liz, it is not so much the calcium levels of the ground cuttle bone that you would have to worry about, but the calcium : phosphorous ratio. If I remember correctly (read this somewhere) the correct ratio is 1.5:1.

I found this nutritional analysis of a ground cuttle bone:
http://carolinapetsupply.com/cuttlebone.pdf

I'm not sure how it all equates. I do know that the Rep-Cal w/o D3 that you are supposed to leave in the tubs contains NO phosphorous as it is made with 100% phosphorous free oyster shells.

Who knows...I may be off the wall crazy, I just thought that was all interesting.

 

[Gregg M]

This is some of the best, and most pure calcium on the market...
http://www.zoomed.com/db/products/E...7czoxOiIwIjtzOjg6IlNlYXJjaF95IjtzOjE6IjAiO30=

Its not made from oyster shells and is very light weight... You get a lot for the money too... Really great stuff...