making a calcium block

[foghog]

awhile ago, I ran into a suggestion by someone on this forum who was talking about making a calcium block, rather simply, using powdered and vitamin supplemented non phosphorous calcium, merely putting it into a form, adding water to make a thick paste, then drying it out until it forms a block and there ya have it.....I read it and recognized the possibilities, but well I usually put in limestone, and cuttlebone and also add non phosphorous calcium powder to the substraight. my sails have never had any lack of calcium issues I assure you....however. I felt like trying it a few weeks ago, and am now giving the results of the experiment. without a doubt, unequivocally, the snails love it....they just plain do, way more then cuttle bone. they are always in it. I have a feeling it is easier for them to scrape because it is softer, but there is no doubts at all, they love it more. I on the other hand did not make it just out of calcium powder. studies have shown actually powdered oyster shell is more productive for snails measurably. So I had a 50/50 mix actually. but they won;t get off the block, I swear they love it that much....now I do have concerns of them perhaps getting to much calcium, I believe studies show best amount is 10-15% calcium/food ratio is opportune for the snails I am actually doing this with....so we will see....they might actually love it to much......but figured I'd mention it, to see if anyone else has made these blocks themselves and what they thought, and of course to give credit to those who mentioned it.

[coyote]

I've been using blocks made from powdered limestone and my snails love them. They crawl right past the cuttle and go for the block.

[foghog]

yes they do. I hadn;t a clue.....like I said though I use 50% powdered oyster shell though as there have been studies with snails that show a marketed improvement of oyster shell compared to limestone, and calcium powder, but here we have it, they won;t get off it.......my only concern now is, is it to much calcium? I have setup a test tank where I leave one in at all times now, and one where I only put it in 1 day/week, to see if it makes a difference.

[foghog]

I net it is because it is softer and easier for them, yet not totally dry like powder.

[muddydragon]

hi,
my snails love it too (when growing i believe they use it less when adults) and so far i haven't had any problems. (several years) but i'ld love to hear the results of your experiment.
can i ask where you managed to get powdered oystershell from i've been looking to restock my powdered oystershell but all i have managed to find is oystershell grit.

[foghog]

II actually got this as a 10 lb bag from my brother, and I am in the US, so we pretty much have everything here you can think of. but on the bag is
Warehouse Shell Sales Co.
PO Box 193
45 - 21st Street
Newport MN 55055
888.459.7294

and it is oyster flour. not crushed or grit, it is gritty of course, but it's pretty fine. sort of like a mortar powder. it obviously isn;t going to be as fine as like flukes calcium powder, but the snails eat it fine.

[latebloomer]

I can't find powdered oystershell the only thing available is like bird grit. My concern that my larger young snails didn't seem to use the cuttle has diminished a bit since I found a large white poop when cleaning out!

[coyote]

I found crushed oyster shell at a horse supplies store in a nearby community, and all the finely-crushed particles collected at the bottom of the bag.

I think just about anything can be found on eBay. That's where I get my powdered limestone.