How to feed cuttlefish bones to turtles
Recently, the topic of pet raising has become increasingly popular on major social platforms, especially turtle raising techniques. Among them, cuttlefish bones, as an important tool for calcium supplementation for turtles, have become the focus of discussion among owners. This article will combine the hot topic data from the entire Internet in the past 10 days to provide a detailed analysis of the methods, precautions and scientific basis for feeding cuttlefish bones to turtles, and attach structured data for reference.
1. Why are cuttlefish bones suitable for feeding turtles?

Cuttlefish bones are rich in calcium carbonate (content is as high as 80%-90%), which can effectively prevent tortoise soft nail disease and promote the healthy development of tortoise shells. According to voting data from the Reptile Pet Forum, 92% of senior pet owners recommend feeding cuttlefish bones regularly.
| Nutritional information | Content (per 100g) |
|---|---|
| calcium carbonate | 85-92g |
| trace elements | Magnesium, zinc, iron, etc. |
| crude protein | 3-5g |
2. Guide to the whole process of feeding cuttlefish bones to turtles
1.Preprocessing steps:
- Soak in fresh water for 24 hours to remove salt (this step is required for seafood cuttlefish bones)
- Boil in boiling water for 5 minutes to sterilize
- Dry in the sun until completely dry
2.Comparison of feeding methods:
| way | Applicable turtle species | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Whole block suspension | Land turtle/semi-aquatic turtle | 1 time a week |
| Grinding powder to mix food | Hatchling/Sick Turtle | Add to each meal |
| Debris feeding | water turtle | Once every 2 weeks |
3. Answers to recent hot questions (based on Zhihu hot posts)
1.Q: Will cuttlefish bones cause constipation in turtles?
A: Overfeeding may cause constipation. It is recommended that the total amount per week should not exceed 3% of the turtle's body weight.
2.Q: Which one is better, supermarket cuttlebone vs. pet-friendly?
A: Comparative test data shows:
| Type | Calcium content | Price (yuan/g) |
|---|---|---|
| Supermarket regular style | 87% | 0.15-0.3 |
| For pets only | 91% | 0.8-1.2 |
4. Things to note (summary of Douyin’s popular science videos)
- Aquatic turtles such as Brazilian turtles need to be used with UVB lamps to promote calcium absorption
- Moldy cuttlefish bones contain aflatoxin and are absolutely prohibited from feeding.
- Female turtles should increase their feeding amount by 20% during mating period
- Need to be taken at least 4 hours apart from vitamin D3 supplements
5. Alternatives (main measured data of UP station B)
| Calcium supplement materials | calcium absorption rate | risk index |
|---|---|---|
| cuttlebone | 68% | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| egg shell | 42% | ★★☆☆☆ |
| calcium powder | 75% | ★★★☆☆ |
According to hot discussions on the Internet, the correct use of cuttlefish bones can increase the hardness of turtle shells by more than 40% (data source: Reptile Pet Association 2023 report). It is recommended that owners scientifically feed their turtles based on their species, age, and health, and regularly observe changes in their shells. If there are any abnormalities, they should promptly consult a professional veterinarian.
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