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As responsible tortoise keepers, it’s our job to use all kinds of tools available to help our pets grow as healthy as possible.
Some items might seem trivial, but when added to your enclosure, can greatly enhance your tortoise’s living conditions. One such item is the cuttlefish bone, or simply the cuttlebone.
But what is a cuttlefish bone? How can your tortoise benefit from having them in their habitat? Are they something your tortoise really needs? Well, let’s look into that.
Cuttlefish bones, while not entirely necessary for your tortoise enclosure, can certainly help enhance your tortoise’s life. It’s not just a great source of calcium, but it can help them wear down their beaks in a natural and, most importantly, safe way.
It certainly has a lot of benefits, but let’s delve deeper into it, so you can decide for yourself if this is something you or your tortoise needs.
Where can you get Cuttlefish Bone?
As we’ve mentioned before, cuttlebone is traditionally used as a source of calcium for pet birds.
In fact, ancient records show that the practice of giving cuttlebones to birds can be traced back to Ancient Rome. So, if you’re looking to give your tortoise a cuttlefish bone, then you have a good chance of finding one where they also sell pet bird supplies.
In fact, Zoo Med offers its own selection of cuttlefish bone named Turtle Bone. Cuttlebones are relatively cheap, and you can buy quite a few without breaking the bank.
Of course, if you really don’t want to spend any money and you live close to the sea, you can try your luck at the local beach. Good tortoise cuttlefish bone usually litters the sands where cuttlefish are also found.
If you do decide to opt for cuttlefish bone found on the shoreline, then you will need to clean it up first before offering it to your tortoise to avoid any nasty infection.
Benefits of Giving a Tortoise Cuttlefish Bone
Although cuttlebone is a popular item for bird keepers, it has properties that tortoises can greatly benefit from. Here are some of the benefits of giving your tortoise cuttlefish bone.
Cuttlefish Bone is an Excellent Source of Calcium
If you’ve had more than one tortoise, then you may have noticed that each one has its own unique personality and preferences.
For example, one tortoise might be partial to a specific food item, while another one might avoid it like the plague for no apparent reason.
This can make it difficult to meet their daily nutritional needs, especially so with essential minerals like calcium. Because cuttlefish bone is made almost entirely of calcium, it’s a good alternative source for you to consider.
It is so rich in calcium, in fact, that most commercial calcium supplements for tortoises and reptiles in general list cuttlefish bone as one of their main ingredients.
So, if your tortoise isn’t too fond of a particular food that’s rich in calcium, then giving them a piece of cuttlebone might be what they’re looking for.
It Helps Trim Down Their Beaks
In the wild, tortoises generally don’t need much help breaking down their beaks or their claws, since they get worn down over time as they are being used.
It’s a totally different story while they are in captivity. One issue that many tortoise keepers don’t know how to deal with is trimming their tortoise’s beak.
Untrimmed beaks can be problematic for tortoises, as this can prevent them from eating. Plus, if not done correctly, trimming your tortoise’s beak can be very uncomfortable, both for the tortoise and its owner.
Cuttlefish bones offer a less invasive and more natural way of trimming down your tortoise’s beak. It’s not too hard but can be hard enough to help wear down beaks over time.
In fact, bird owners also use cuttlebone for the same reasons; to help wear down their pets’ beaks.
It’s a Good Item for Enrichment
Tortoises do get bored, too, and they will need toys and other items to help enrich their lives.
There aren’t many things that can entertain tortoises, however, but cuttlebones are definitely something they’d appreciate having around.
Tortoises tend to be very food-motivated and would normally eat even when they’re not hungry simply to pass the time.
Giving your tortoise cuttlefish bone is an excellent way to keep them occupied without putting them in danger of overfeeding.
Preparing Your Tortoise’s Cuttlebone
As we’ve mentioned before, it is possible to get a cuttlefish bone simply by walking around the beach.
The cuttlebones you find along the shore are usually the same stuff you get from the pet store. However, you can’t simply pick one up and give it to your tortoise as is.
You’ll have to clean it and prepare it first, to avoid getting your tortoise sick. Here are the things you’ll need to do.
Boil it in Water
Once you’ve gathered up all the cuttlebone you want from the beach, rinse them off as soon as you can.
Next, put them in a saucepan filled with water and let them boil for at least 5 minutes.
Once that’s done, drain the saucepan and place the cuttlefish bones on top of a paper towel and let them air dry.
Submerge in Salt Water
If you want to be extra sure of your cuttlefish bone, instead of drying them, you can soak them in salt water first.
Simply take a few tablespoons of table salt and dissolve it in a saucepan full of water. Soak the cuttlebone for at least 30 to 40 minutes.
It’s also a good idea to soak the cuttlefish bone you get from the pet store before giving it to your tortoise if you’re not planning on boiling it in water. Once that’s done, air dries the cuttlebone as per usual.
Remove the Shell
Cuttlebone comes with a protective shell underneath it. This shell can be a bit sharp on the edges, which can cause injury to your tortoise, or even to you if you’re not careful.
Once you’ve sanitized the cuttlefish bone, you should remove the shell from it. You can do this by prying the shell off using a knife or scraping the chalky bits off with a spoon. Once the shell is off, you can safely give it to your tortoise.
Alternatives to Cuttlefish Bone
Sometimes, cuttlebone may not be available at the local pet store, or you live far from the shore. This makes securing cuttlebone a bit difficult.
Other times, you get a tortoise that just doesn’t like cuttlebone. Lucky for you, there are alternatives you can use that will more or less have the same effect on your tortoise as a cuttlebone.
Tortoise Blocks
A good candidate that provides the same benefits as cuttlebone is tortoise or turtle blocks.
These items are blocks made from calcium and other minerals that also give the same benefits as cuttlefish bone, namely helping wear down their beak and for enrichment.
Turtle blocks and tortoise blocks are more or less the same and can be used by both. Zoo Med has a Banquet Block that works well with many tortoise species.
Calcium Supplements
- Free of impurities such as Oyster Shell Calcium
- Great value for the amount of calcium you're receiving
- Free of impurities such as Oyster Shell Calcium
If cuttlefish bone just isn’t an option for your tortoise as a source of calcium, then you should supplement their diet in other ways.
There are calcium supplements available on the market that can give your tortoise enough of the calcium they need to avoid getting calcium deficiency.
Good brands include Fluker’s ReptaCal and Zoo Med’s Repti Calcium.
Final Thoughts
In the wild, tortoises have plenty of ways to help supplement their overall nutrition, whether it’s in the plants in their local environment or other items.
In order for tortoise keepers to give the same rounded-out nutrition, they will need to be creative, and cuttlefish bones can provide the answer they’re looking for.
