General Care Discussion :: Vitamin suppliment

[Shavannah]

I've had my turt 3 years (thought it was 4 but I'm old and lose track of time lol). Anyway, I've never given him a multivitamin with D3, but I've read on here he needs one. Also, if it's in powder form, how does it stay on the food when the food is in the water? Thanks

[marisa]

If your turtle is healthy and getting a balanced diet, he doesn't really need one. Why do you think he needs one?

[Shavannah]

I wasn't sure if I did. I was just reading a lot on here, and it was mentioned a few times. He is getting a balanced diet and the appropriate amount and type of lighting. Thanks for answering my concern, marisa.

[marisa]

Are you sure you read multivitamin and and not calcium? The only supplement I currently giving my turts occasionally is powdered calcium---plain in the summer and one with Vit D added in the months when they're indoors. And I don't do it every day. They get a pretty balanced diet and their shells are hard and look good, so I'm not going to fix what doesn't appear to be broken.

The need for calcium is somewhat greater in hatchlings, and I could see a calcium supplement being used regularly with a turtle that appeared to be having shell problems.

[Shavannah]

My turtle is indoors year-round, I don't have a space outdoors for a pond unfortunately. I give him a few small pieces of cuttlebone a couple times a week. Should I not give him that? His shell is hard and looks good. What veggies supply the calcium he needs?

[marisa]

The cuttlebone is fine. I provide it daily to some of my turts. My RES (4 years old) doesn't eat it all at once, so I keep several pieces floating in his tank and replace them as he eats them. Some of my eastern painteds are the same. I have two, however, who usually crunch the pieces down. I give them a certain amount each day, and when they've eaten that, they have to wait until the next day to get more.

About the best plant sources of calcium are dandelions and duckweed (an aquatic plant).

[Shavannah]

Ok, that's good. I was concerned I wasn't giving enough or giving too much. I appreciate all you help!