What's a good alternative to cuttlefish bones ?

[tbger]

Hello,

I'll start by saying that I find it hard knowing that an animal has suffered just because someone wants its bone, therefore I'd prefer not to use cuttlefish bones for calcium. (I'm vegan so it might have something to do with it -- I don't eat milk for the very same reason.)

I'm aware of the fact calcium is crucial for the snails' health and would like to find a good alternative. Especially given one of my snails is a juvenile and its shell is still somewhat soft.

I've read anything found under
www.petsnails.co.uk/care/feeding.html#f_calcium

I'd like to supply them with enough calcium but would rather avoiding cuttlefish bones -- what is the next best option available in that case ?


Any help appreciated ! Thank you

[tsrebel]

Powdered calcium.
Oyster shells and egg shell are also used.

[tbger]

Hey, thanks for helping me again. Egg shells would probably have sharp ends -- wouldn't it harm the snails this way ?

[corvuszombie]

i heard theres a calcium grit you can give them.
i have some for my birds, i dont know what its made of just that if you dont have a cuddle bone you sprinkle the grit into there food and they eat it.
i was looking up snail care last night and ran across a guy useing the grit as a substrate in his snail tank. so you may want to give that a look.
(you can buy the calcium grit at walmart)

[starcrazy19]

Since I started giving my retics oystershell, they eat massive amounts of that and aren't very interested in their cuttlefish any more. It does seem like oystershell and eggshell should be too hard/sharp but they seem to manage fine - they are quite big though. I don't know the origin of oystershell - obviously it also is a product that can only be obtained from killing the animal, but it may well be a byproduct that would otherwise simply be thrown away. It'd be your choice if that is acceptable to you or not. As a vegan, you may well have similar issues with eggshells.
Otherwise there are reptile calcium suppliments and limestone flour, I don't know if snails can be healthy with limestone alone but my babies do seem to prefer it to other calcium sources.

[corvuszombie]

also if you live near a lake or stream you could walk that and find shells.
since the animal is already dead and was not killed for food or sport and died from natural causes.
im not vegan but to me using shells you find is recycling and not harming any animal and also is promoting the life of another animal (i.e your snail)
im not a expert that was just a thought so if you want to try that i would ask others on this site who know more then me if that would work.
also i wonder if calcium pills would work the ones that are sold at the stores?
again just a idea ask the experts lol i dont want to cause you to make a mistake and ur pets get harmed
CorvusZombie

[tbger]

Thank you all for the helpful advice.

I'll give crushed egg shells and oyster shells a try; given what's written about it on the Calcium page of this site, I guess this should be a good (and also natural) choice.

[morningcoffee]

Feb 16, 2013 15:43:20 GMT tbger said:

Hello,

I'll start by saying that I find it hard knowing that an animal has suffered just because someone wants its bone, therefore I'd prefer not to use cuttlefish bones for calcium. (I'm vegan so it might have something to do with it -- I don't eat milk for the very same reason.)

I'm aware of the fact calcium is crucial for the snails' health and would like to find a good alternative. Especially given one of my snails is a juvenile and its shell is still somewhat soft.

I've read anything found under
www.petsnails.co.uk/care/feeding.html#f_calcium

I'd like to supply them with enough calcium but would rather avoiding cuttlefish bones -- what is the next best option available in that case ?


Any help appreciated ! Thank you

I've always given my snails limestone flour. I just put a couple of spoonfuls into a small bowl inside their tank and replaced it once it was gone. They always ate it very happily.
It's given to horses as a calcium supplement, so it shouldn't be too hard to find.

I used to mix it with small pieces of oyster shell which they'd also rasp quite happily.

[malacophile]

Cuttlefish bones come from cuttlefish that are used for people food. And considering how they aren't farmed, the cuttlefish got to spend their whole lives swimming freely in the ocean.

If you're planning to use egg shell (which not all snails seem to like), you can't say the same thing about the chickens that laid them. If you're vegan, I'm sure you're already familiar with the farming practices used to raise them. In that light, it actually seems more ethical to use cuttle bone unless you have access to a pure, pharmaceutical-grade calcium carbonate powder or, like Morningcoffee said, limestone flour.

[tbger]

^^^ Good point, thanks.

I bought them a powdered limestone block today. Seems like they're pretty much ignorant about it. Do snails usually, actually like this kind of stuff ?

[pinkunicorn]

High five for being vegan! I'm not anymore/currently due to health reasons (my body after surgery is the problem; not vegan diet itself) but obviously a veg*n advocate at core still.

As people mentioned cuttlefish bones are leftovers from the animals fished/farmed for food so using them does not add to the killing. But as with all animal products it's a choice between using the leftover "trash" and preventing waste, or choosing not to support the industry in any way. Both can work for snail keepers.

Calcium carbonate powder made into blocks is an excellent option. You can even use calcium sulphate aka gypsum/plaster of Paris to make a harder block, if it's pure calcium sulphate. Which one is available to you. Carbonate has higher bioavailability.

You can also use human supplements, provided there's no other additives than calcium and starch fillers. Vitamin D I don't recommend in constant use for healthy snails to avoid overdose, though it might be good for broken shells.

Snails eat limestone in nature but pampered pet snails may find it odd at first. Powdering it and sprinkling over food might make it more appealing.

Have you thought of a protein addition to their diet btw? Snails are opportunistic omnivores in the wild and benefit from a bit of animal protein. For the most ethical option free range certified organic eggs might be the best option, hard boiled. Unless you don't mind a bit of fish food. That's usually the easiest as it keeps well for ages.