Calcium is vital for healthy bones, growth and overall bodily functions. Without proper calcium in your tortoise’s diet, he can develop metabolic bone disease. Metabolic bone disease can be very painful and can lead to deformity and sometimes death, if left untreated.
Your tortoise should consume calcium in his diet. Greens like kale, collard greens and spinach are rich in calcium. You don’t want to overfeed these greens because they are also high in oxalates, but the dark, leafy greens are safe to feed as a part of a varied diet.
To ensure that your sulcata tortoise is consuming appropriate calcium, sprinkle a calcium supplement on the tortoise’s food a few times a week.
What Calcium Should I Give My Sulcata Tortoise?
Not all calcium is created equal. So when shopping for a calcium supplement for your tortoise, keep in mind your needs. The first question you should ask is whether your sulcata is inside or outside because this will determine what type of calcium supplement you need to look for.
If your tortoise spends most, or all, of his time inside under artificial UV lights, you want to pick a calcium supplement that is made with D3. Vitamin D3 is important for calcium absorption.
Tortoises that spend at least a few hours outside a week outside are able to absorb natural UVB from the sun. UVB triggers the body to create D3. Artificial lighting does not mimic the sun’s benefits 100%. A good artificial light source will help and is 100% recommended for indoor sulcata tortoise enclosures.
But be safe and use a reptile calcium supplement with D3 for inside sulcata tortoises.
Zoo Med Reptile Calcium +D3
Zoo Med Repti Calcium is an ultra-fine phosphorus-free calcium carbonate supplement. This calcium supplement has a unique surface area per gram, resulting in a better absorption rate.
Rep-Cal Phosphorous-Free Calcium Powder with Vitamin D3
Rep-Cal is an ultra-fine calcium powder that is made with 100% natural oyster shell. It is phosphorus-free and includes vitamin D3 to aid in calcium absorption.
