salty cuttlebones

[Selena]

I throw many cuttlebones away because of the salty layer on it, wich i can't remove.

I tried everything: Always cook them any way, sometimes for hours. I soak them in water for days, i rinse them over and over and over and over again with fresh water from the tap en let them dry. When they get dry, at least 65% of all cuttlebones is still salty (i taste it with the top of my tongue) then i cook them again, soak them again, cook them again and when they got dry: theres still salt on it. Finally i throw them away because the salt is not removable or the cuttlebone begins to smell awful and strange colours appear on it (because it get wet all the time)

I bought the cuttlefish at several providers: petstores and ordered recently 2 kg in a bird webshop. after 1.5 month, i have to order again!! because there are so many bones not usefull. All cuttlebones should be cooked before sold (according to the seller) . I know people who give those cuttlebones directly from the store to their snails, dispide a salty taste (or they didn;t taste it at all ??) and haven't experienced any problems. I never met someone with the same problems i have. But i don;t understand it, because salt will kill snails.

How to remove the salty layer on cuttlebone?

[muddydragon]

hmmm. so you find all cuttlebones taste salty? they do have a distinctive taste that some may think is salty. soaking and changing the water should work as the salt should dissolve in the water, some will remain but repeat soakings should do it - warm water is better.

If it's just a top layer you could try scraping it off see if it is any better underneath.
If you keep having problems you could just switch to limestone flour only.

[Selena]

Hi muddydragon,

yeah, but not all cuttlebones. and some of them only have salty spots. i rinse with water and throw the old water away and rinse again with fresh water a few times. I also tried to scape a layer of it, but nothing works, the salty taste is in the cuttlebone as well. When you touch your skin with the top of your tongue, you get a bit salty taste as well, its like that! i'm just wondering why i seem to be the only person with this problem. maybe there is something wrong with my taste??
How do you test the cuttlebones if its not too salt? or you don't tast it anymore after rinse and cook?

[muddydragon]

my cuttlebones have always been fine after i've bought them i've not needed to rinse them. i do a quick taste test but they've always been fine. the salt levels on your skin (unless you haven't washed in a while or have been sweating a lot) would not be a detrimental level anyway so if you find it's a similar level it should be fine.

[Selena]

oke, any way í will buy some other calcium source as well. If its too salty. Will snails refuse to eat it themself or do they eat it though en dry out after doing that?
By the way, i never heard about someone with dead snails caused by cuttlebones, did you ever heard that? If there should so many of my cuttlebones too salty, its likely other people have the same problems to, especially the people that ordered their cuttlebones at the same provider. but i know someone that never had problems, unless the rodatzi producing eggs without scale caused by a lack of calcium (according to what she told me) maybe snails refuse to eat the salty parts of the cuttlebone. It must be irritant for their skins, don't it?

[sparrow]

I would assume all living creatures, including snails, require a small amount of sodium in their diet. I did notice a slight salty taste to the cuttlebones I've used and always soak them in spring water before using. Snagglepuss has never cared for the cuttlebone and like the saying goes, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink". I leave a small chunk in the tank, but there is never dirt or slime on it, indicating he stays far away. I remember the first time I saw him go near the cuttlebone, he reared up and "ran" in the other direction, again assuming snails know what they can tolerate. Perhaps consider purchasing one or two pieces from different sellers of cuttlebone and seeing if they all have the same level of salt that you are detecting.

Another thought, maybe because you are so focused on the salty taste right now, your taste buds are also at a heightened awareness level and you are "tasting" more salt than normal.
I use Rep-Cal powder:
www.amazon.com/Rep-Cal-SRP00220-Phosphorous-Free-Amphibian-Supplement/dp/B00BS96GLE/ref=sr_1_5?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1426603028&sr=1-5

[Selena]

 Hi Sparrow,

Thanks for tips! I;m afraid i can't lead a horse to water, i'm scared of horses. I do lead cuttlebones to water... with no effect unfortunately
I did the test with many cuttlebones from different sources, but the majority had the salty layer on it. After i rinse them a many times with fresh water, coocking them, a few haven't got the salty taste anymore, but most do have. Some of the cuttlebones gets eaten frequently and some off them never gets touched. I think they do feel what to salt for their body.
You could be right about the taste. the mind is able to have big influences on a perception. Like the placebo effect.
Maybe i should ask the neibours if they want to taste the cuttlebones (  fancy!) '

i did use the rep cal powder. But how do you manage the right amount? it could be to many if you put it over the food, couldn't it?

[etana]

That's right, there is a risk of overdose if the calcium powder is on the food. Like cuttlebone, it should be a separate source that the snail can use when he wants to. Maybe serve it on a little dish, perhaps use a bit of water to make it into a paste? Just some thoughts.

[sparrow]

Mar 20, 2015 8:09:45 GMT Selena said:

 Hi Sparrow,

Thanks for tips! I;m afraid i can't lead a horse to water, i'm scared of horses. I do lead cuttlebones to water... with no effect unfortunately
I did the test with many cuttlebones from different sources, but the majority had the salty layer on it. After i rinse them a many times with fresh water, coocking them, a few haven't got the salty taste anymore, but most do have. Some of the cuttlebones gets eaten frequently and some off them never gets touched. I think they do feel what to salt for their body.
You could be right about the taste. the mind is able to have big influences on a perception. Like the placebo effect.
Maybe i should ask the neibours if they want to taste the cuttlebones (  fancy!) '

i did use the rep cal powder. But how do you manage the right amount? it could be to many if you put it over the food, couldn't it?

Since I've had Snagglepuss, I've cut down on my own salt intake, but my skin still tastes super-salty to me.
In my case, Snaggle will only eat the calcium if I sprinkle it on broccoli - I have a weird snail! When he was very young, he would eat a lot of it, but now, very rarely see him actively eating it.
I sprinkle a miniscule amount on a piece of wet bark and never sprinkle it on any other food other than the broccoli. A very small pinch every other day seems to suffice.
I also mix it in the soil when preparing a fresh tank. Considering I have a 5 gallon tank, with about 3 inches of soil, I add about a tablespoon and mix it very thoroughly to distribute as evenly as possible.

[Selena]

Etana, yeah thats my issue with reptile calcium. And.. it gets mixed with snailslime, and i suppose it could be irriating?

Sparrow, i think that's it! i used to eat salt before but since a long period, i use less and when i occacionaly add some salt to my food its too many. So if you are not used to salty food anymore, your taste will change of course!

But the problem is: i never know for sure, what if its too salty for real? is it a risk the snails gets harmed?

[Jade]

I think the cuttlebones will always taste quite salty because it is a sea creature. I wasn't washing mine before I read this post, but I will now.

[Selena]

:)I know its a bone of an octopus. I live near the cost and could almost find them in my back garden. Salt is dissolvable in water so you could get rit of it by rinse very well.... or you never get rit of it because your tongue :Pis too sensitive for salt.

i bought calcium powder (without D) yesterday, so i heave more sources now.