crushed oystershells

[eric2]

Ive bought some crushed oyster shells from my local pet shop and some chick crumb. Is the crushed oyster shells suitable for snails? Im sure i read somewhere that whole ones are good for them

thanks in advance
eric

[natrat84]

You mean like grit for birds? If so I think crushed is still too big bits for them. They are very hard and sharp. You need powdered oyster shell, which is damn hard to find.
They'll love the chick crumb though ;D have you tried it before?
Nat

[eric2]

never tried the chick crum before but it was gone in an hour. The crushed oyster shells have quite allot of powder in it if t was but through a seive would it be easier for them to eat?

eric

[Deleted]

can u actually get powdered oyster shell is it possible?

[natrat84]

Gone in an hour ha ha, Sounds like they enjoyed it ;D

If you sieve it I would think the powder would be ok, but don't rely on my answer for that lol.

I think so Mike but not many places I've heard of it, but never seen it for sale.

[eric2]

i mixed the seived oyster shells into some of the chick crumb and they still gobbled it down. Does this mean it is alright for them?

eric

[Deleted]

hopefully, if they were able to swallow it im sure its ok for them. oyster shells apparently are the best source of Ca

[Paul]

Well, mine won't eat it. The studies say they should get powdered oyster shells but I can't find them. The crushed stuff has really large, sharp and incredibly hard pieces so I figured it wasn't suitable, even though they can distend their stomachs.

How big are the pieces, mine are like 0.5 - 1.5mm. However, if your snails ate it with no problems perhaps it is suitable after all. I hope so, it is better and half the price of cuttlefish.

[eric2]

most of the pieces are the same size as yours. It is the same price as cuttle fish where i bought it from but it was a large bag

eric

[alexc1981]

Try putting the crushed shells in a salt / pepper grinder. That should be tough enough to grind them to a powder.

[Leah]

So where can ya get em from?

[Paul]

Pet shops sell it for birds, to aid digestion.

I tried a peppermill and a grinder but it didn't work coz the pieces are so hard. My peppermill just wouldn't turn. So I think you need an industrial one. Besides which, a peppermill is not practical. You'd need a proper mill-stone I think. Why can't you just buy it pre-powdered? I also wanted to buy dehydrated fruit and veg in a sack. Sounds a reasonable request - I can't find any, anywhere.

[Arno]

Can't you dehydrate it yourself?

[Leah]

ps. I love your signature Paul. LMAO!

[ceiron]

www.robharvey.com/

have a look on their paul.

[mickysnail]

I have come across a crushed oyster shell and most of the bits seem small to me. It looks like fine grit. I experimented abd tried to crush a bit with a spoon. Some of it did actually crush. I figured that there may be a way to grind this one? what about a coffe grinder? The only thing is that the oyster shell contains trace elements.i dont know i this is safe? any ideas? mickynail

[coyote]

How able are snails to rasp away directly on the oyster shell itself? Or must it be in powdered form for them?

[mickysnail]

Whole oyster shells can be used if washed thourghly. Nails can absorb calcium through their foot. so they might like yo sit on the shells?I will get some myself if I ever get to the beach. powdered is also good. I think it's when it's gritty that snails have problems with absorbsion. mickysnail

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