Dietary requirements for vitamins and minerals can be complex. Failure to consume the proper amounts may result in various disorders including deformities in the plastron and carapace.
Experienced tortoise keepers advise using products such as Reptavite that do not contain high levels of phosphorus for best results when feeding tortoises with calcium-rich bones like bone meal.
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Calcium
Calcium is one of the essential minerals necessary for tortoises to remain healthy, as obtaining enough of it ensures their skeleton and shell remain in top shape. Tortoises in their natural environments receive sufficient amounts by eating plants or their own shells; in captivity it may be harder to provide an appropriate balance.
Supplements available to tortoises typically consist of powders and blocks in various forms. Unfortunately, most are unsuitable due to high concentrations of phosphorous that interfere with calcium absorption from food sources and dissuade tortoises from feeding which reduces caloric intake and nutritional balance.
Nutrobal offers a balanced combination of vitamins, minerals and trace elements to prevent any deficiency symptoms like softening of the shell. This supplement can be given on days that the tortoise doesn’t receive powder supplements; alternatively a liquid calcium supplement such as Fluker’s can be administered directly onto food or into water sources.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble vitamin essential for calcium absorption. Additionally, it plays an integral part in bone health through helping form strong skeletons. Vitamin D can be produced naturally through ultraviolet light hitting sterols on skin or taken orally through reptile calcium/mineral supplements for tortoises.
Vitamin A deficiency is common among turtles fed a diet composed of mostly pellets or meat. Signs of deficiency include enlarged eyes which cannot open fully and the development of secondary bacterial or fungal infections. A veterinarian may administer injections of vitamin A as a remedy; however, oversupplementation with this vitamin could result in hypervitaminosis resulting in hypervitaminosis symptoms in some instances.
Vitamin A blocks commonly sold in pet stores contain heavy metal gypsum that cannot be absorbed by an animal’s system, so they should be avoided at all costs. Instead, consider feeding your tortoise an A/D liquid supplement such as Nutrobal on alternate days in order to avoid overdosing with vitamins.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, best known for curing scurvy, also plays an important role in bone health. It works to both suppress osteoclasts (cells that destroy bones) while stimulating osteoblasts to produce new ones, helping prevent fractures while maintaining strong bones. Furthermore, Vitamin C also plays an essential role in helping the body absorb and store iron efficiently.
Vitamin C, being water-soluble, dissolves easily in water and any excess leaves the body through urine. As such, it serves many important roles within the body including forming blood vessels and cartilage, fighting infections such as colds and flus, absorbing iron from foods sources and acting as an antioxidant (blocking some damage caused by free radicals to body tissues). Vitamin C supplements come in a range of forms including tablets, liquids, creams and serums; most adults should consume up to 2000 mg daily of vitamin C without adverse side effects such as diarrhea or kidney stone formation if taken too high doses can occur; otherwise overdosage could result in diarrhea or kidney stones for some individuals.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is another fat-soluble vitamin essential for bone health. It works to protect the body against free radical damage and works alongside vitamins A and C to keep free radical damage to a minimum. Available from many foods, and particularly abundant in healthy varied diets. A powerful antioxidant, it works alongside vitamin D in helping metabolise calcium as well as producing testosterone and oestrogen for reproduction purposes in male tortoises; making its role essential to the maintenance of normal reproductive processes.
Tortoises require various minerals and vitamins for good health. While their diet should provide ample sources of the necessary vitamins and minerals, achieving an appropriate balance may prove challenging in captivity. Supplementation products specifically tailored for reptiles such as Nutrobal, Rep-cal or cuttlefish bone will all offer high calcium (but no phosphorous) intake while also offering plenty of Vitamin D3 as well as essential trace elements.
