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Post by mickysnail on Jan 30, 2007 23:39:43 GMT
Hi, does anyone know if it is possible to feed too much calcium?
Thanx mickysnail
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Post by katherineh on Jan 31, 2007 10:34:49 GMT
It would be difficult, I should think. The snails seem to take what they need. I think it would be more risky to try to restrict access to calcium. What source of calcium are you using?
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Post by gastropodgirl on Jan 31, 2007 12:45:19 GMT
I agree I think snails only take what calcium they need I don't think they can have too much.
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Post by Paul on Jan 31, 2007 16:40:48 GMT
Snails can have too much calcium. If it occurs often, the calcium crystallises in the blood of the snail and can kill it. It is very much like gall stones in human beings.
The optimum percentage of calcium required by snails in their diet is believed to be 12% (Dai Herbert/Dick Kilburn). I'm uncertain whether the 12% is Calcium or Calcium carbonate.
This is only gonna occur when snails are involuntarily eating calcium in mixes or pre-prepared food. It is unlikely (but not impossible) they would voluntarily eat too much.
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Post by katherineh on Jan 31, 2007 17:42:10 GMT
Interesting. Does that mean it's better to provide a separate source of calcium like cuttlefish than to add limestone flour to food, liquid calcium to spray bottles, oystershell to substrate etc.? So the snails can control their intake?
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Post by gastropodgirl on Jan 31, 2007 21:14:30 GMT
How bizarre I never would have thought a snail could have too much calcium,you learn something new every day.
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Post by mickysnail on Jan 31, 2007 21:55:37 GMT
I have been adding limestone flour to the food to help the rasped shell for about a week. would it be best to stop this then? How long before problems show. Im worried now!!! Mickysnail
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Post by katherineh on Jan 31, 2007 22:17:02 GMT
Lots of people use limestone flour with good results, so don't panic!
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Post by mickysnail on Jan 31, 2007 22:22:57 GMT
Thanx for that. Do you use it? how do you provide it, I ve just been adding a pinch over the snails food daily. Micky snail
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Post by katherineh on Jan 31, 2007 22:26:04 GMT
I use cuttlefish for all my snails, so they help themselves. I seriously don't think a pinch a day could be harmful.
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Post by mickysnail on Jan 31, 2007 22:41:27 GMT
Thanx Katherineh.
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Post by Paul on Feb 1, 2007 1:12:50 GMT
A pinch of limestone flour is nothing to worry about, we're talking about excessive amounts, presumably identified through snail-farming.
The mix I feed contains roughly 15% Calcium carbonate; most gets passed right through. As a rough guide, oyster shell is roughly 99% CaC02 and cuttlefish bone is about 88% CaC02.
I've fed a particular snail a 50% CaC02 mix when it had shell problems and it suffered no ill-effects. It's really long-term effects I'm talking about.
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Post by mickysnail on Feb 1, 2007 7:21:21 GMT
Thanx for clearing that up for me! mickysnal
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Post by happinesseverafter on Mar 2, 2007 19:20:06 GMT
Heya! I've been hearing that my snails need calcium, but I'm not really sure what I should give it. I'm not sure if any pet stores around sell things especially for snails, is there something household I can give it?
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Post by gastropodgirl on Mar 2, 2007 19:41:22 GMT
Mine have cuttle fish.
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Val
Archachatina dimidiata
Posts: 2,498
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Post by Val on Mar 2, 2007 22:15:23 GMT
I have found that a piece of cuttlefish is the best way to give them calcium, crushed oyster shell is good also if you can get any. the snails really like both.
Val
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