|
Post by sparrow on Oct 6, 2014 20:48:43 GMT
The results of my little experiment were somewhat disappointing and I agree we should all stick to what is working best for our little snail buddies. I put 1/4 teaspoon of each brand in a test tube and filled the tube with vinegar. Stirred them every 15 minutes for 90 minutes. As soon as I added the vinegar to the Rep-Cal, it fizzled well (as a carbonate should). The Swanson (citrate) fizzled slightly. Did the same thing in two small glasses at the same time in addition to the test tubes and the results are the same: About 1/4 of the Rep-Cal (Calcium carbonate) dissolved after 90 minutes. It appears the Swanson (Calcium citrate) didn't dissolve at all, but rather expanded by about 1/3. How much slower the rate of absorption for the citrate is, was not clear, thus I let them sit for 90 minutes instead of 30. Gee, I wonder how all those snails in the wild ever survive without humans?
|
|
Zorst
Achatina tincta
Posts: 734
|
Post by Zorst on Oct 7, 2014 9:41:53 GMT
Mine all eat Cuttle fish bone like its going outta fashion, and they all have good strong shells so I'll stick with what they are happy with. Love the image you created with this comment Etana lol (or like my big Achatina, just pushed it around like a slimy bulldozer instead of rasping it). The slimy bulldozer image had me in stitches lol. Zorst
|
|
|
Post by etana on Oct 9, 2014 11:25:22 GMT
Hahaha Zorst, thanks And Sparrow, Excellent question!!
|
|
|
Post by sparrow on Oct 9, 2014 18:55:17 GMT
Hooray!! Ladies and gentlemen, I feel obligated to update that Snagglepuss has officially discovered the cuttlebone! I caught him happily rasping away on it this morning. I've tried cuttlebone with him for over 2 years (off and on) and he would never go near it, but rather reared up and ran in the opposite direction, so I gave up trying. After reading all the other cuttlebone success stories here, I decided to give it one more shot. Now, I KNOW the reason he decided he liked this cuttlebone above all the rest. Before yesterday, all I could find were cuttlebones in the bird section. Yesterday, at PetCo (a popular pet store in the US) we found cuttlebones boxed for REPTILES!! Well, I had to pay about 25 cents more for the lovely box, but I just KNOW Snagglepuss was able to read the box (of course I showed it to him!) and when he saw it wasn't for birds and did not have that nasty metal band we discard, but for something a little closer to his own species, he decided to give it a whirl! Just so you don't think I'm completely off my rocker, I know there is no difference in the two, but please, don't ever tell Snaggle.
|
|
|
Post by etana on Oct 10, 2014 3:23:55 GMT
Yay! Awesome!
|
|
Zorst
Achatina tincta
Posts: 734
|
Post by Zorst on Oct 10, 2014 6:23:05 GMT
lol! Your secret's safe with us and I'm real glad he likes his Cuttle bone. Zorst
|
|