Turtles need calcium for healthy bones and shells. But what happens when your turtle isn’t getting enough calcium? Calcium deficiency in turtles can lead to some serious health issues. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about turtle calcium deficiency.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Turtles with calcium deficiency may show symptoms like soft shells, shell deformities, lethargy, muscle twitching, and more. It’s usually caused by inadequate calcium in the diet or improper lighting.
Fixing it involves adjusting diet, providing proper UVB light, and possibly calcium supplements.
Signs & Symptoms of Calcium Deficiency in Turtles
Soft or Deformed Shells
One of the most obvious signs of calcium deficiency in turtles is soft or deformed shells. Healthy turtles have hard, smooth shells that protect their bodies. When calcium levels are low, the shell can become soft, thin and bendable.
In severe cases, noticeable dents, grooves or humps may form on the shell.According to the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV), shell deformities are irreversible even after correcting the calcium deficiency.
However, improving calcium levels can help prevent the shell from worsening over time.
Lethargy & Weakness
Calcium is vital for healthy muscles and nerves. Turtles with calcium deficiency often become lethargic and weak. They may have difficulty swimming and moving around their habitat as usual.
Other neurological signs can include muscle tremors or spasms, especially around the head, neck and legs. In extreme cases, a calcium-deficient turtle may become paralyzed and unable to move at all.
Twitching or Tetany
Low blood calcium can cause tetany, which is characterized by muscle twitching, spasms and cramps. It starts in the legs, then spreads to the neck and face.
Tetany occurs because calcium is essential for proper nerve and muscle function. Without enough calcium, the nerves misfire, leading to uncontrolled muscle contractions.
Swelling Around Jaws & Eyes
Some turtles with severe calcium deficiency develop swelling around their eyes, mouth and jaw area. This swelling is caused by a buildup of fluid (edema).
Researchers believe edema results from low albumin levels in the blood. Albumin is a protein that helps regulate fluid balance. When calcium deficiency reduces albumin, fluid leaks out of the blood vessels and accumulates in the tissues.
Unusual Shell Growth
In growing turtles, calcium deficiency can distort and deform the normal growth of the shell. The new shell may grow unevenly, leaving bulges, ridges or pyramided scutes.
Unfortunately, this abnormal shell growth cannot be reversed later on, even with proper calcium levels. However, boosting calcium can help improve the health and growth of the turtle overall.
Causes & Risk Factors
Nutritional Imbalances
An improper diet deficient in calcium is one of the most common causes of calcium deficiency in turtles. Turtles need high levels of calcium for proper shell growth and development. Lack of calcium can lead to soft-shell syndrome, metabolic bone disease, and other health issues.
Feeding too much protein compared to calcium causes the body to deplete its calcium stores. It’s critical to feed turtles a balanced diet with proper calcium to phosphorus ratios. Commercial turtle diets are formulated to provide optimal nutrition, but supplementation is often still needed.
Improper Lighting
Turtles require UVB light for calcium metabolism. Without exposure to UVB rays from the sun or special reptile lighting, they cannot properly synthesize vitamin D3. This leads to an impaired ability to absorb and utilize dietary calcium.
Make sure your turtle habitat has proper UVB lighting and that bulbs are replaced as needed. Natural sunlight exposure can also provide beneficial UVB when temperatures allow.
Health Conditions
Certain health conditions can make turtles more prone to calcium deficiency. Kidney disease impairs calcium regulation. Gravid (egg-bearing) females have very high calcium needs for eggshell formation. Growing juvenile turtles need ample calcium to support rapid growth.
Pre-existing metabolic bone disease also perpetuates calcium deficiencies. Optimizing habitat conditions, nutrition, and health is key to preventing calcium imbalance.
Rapid Growth
Turtles undergo rapid bone growth as juveniles. Their calcium needs are extremely high during this life stage. Insufficient calcium during periods of intensive growth can lead to developmental problems. Providing extra calcium supplementation to juveniles can help support proper bone formation.
Adjusting calcium intake depending on life stage and activity level helps prevent deficiencies.
Treating Turtle Calcium Deficiency
Adjust the Diet
The first line of defense against calcium deficiency in turtles is adjusting their diet. Make sure to feed a varied diet of foods naturally high in calcium like dark, leafy greens. Collard greens, mustard greens, and dandelion greens are fantastic options.
You can also feed small amounts of tofu, beans, peas, and calcium-fortified pellets. These foods will help restore your turtle’s calcium levels over time. Just be cautious not to make drastic changes to their diet as that can upset their digestive system.
Provide Proper Lighting
Getting adequate UVB lighting is crucial for turtles to properly absorb and metabolize the calcium in their diet. Without UVB exposure from direct outdoor sunshine or a quality full spectrum UVB bulb, they cannot utilize dietary calcium even if their food is rich in it.
Ensure your turtle habitat allows at least 8-12 hours a day of unfiltered UV rays. Most experts recommend the linear-style Reptisun 10.0 fluorescent bulbs which most closely mimics natural sunlight. Proper lighting gives your turtle’s body what it needs to restore depleted calcium reserves over time.
Try Calcium Supplements
While adjusting the diet and lighting will help, adding a calcium supplement can give your turtle an extra boost if they have a severe deficiency. The best turtle calcium supplements also contain vitamin D3 to aid absorption. Start with light dusting 3 times a week on their food.
Slowly wean down to 1-2 times a week once blood calcium levels stabilize. Always provide plain, dechlorinated water in a separate dish as well since hydration aids nutrient metabolism. By carefully supporting your turtle’s nutritional needs, supplements get them back on track.
See a Vet if Needed
If adjusting the habitat, diet, lighting, and supplements does not resolve your turtle’s hypocalcaemia, then a vet visit is the next step. Vet testing can determine if an underlying condition like kidney disease inhibits proper calcium absorption.
If that is ruled out, the vet may administer injectable calcium gluconate to quickly restore blood calcium levels. They can show you how to give follow-up injections at home if needed while continuing supportive nutritional care.
While most cases resolve with some adjustments, veterinary assistance provides crucial support for more stubborn calcium deficiencies in our cherished turtle pals.
Preventing Calcium Deficiency in Turtles
Offer Calcium-Rich Foods
Offering calcium-rich foods is crucial for preventing calcium deficiency in turtles. Ideal options include dark leafy greens like kale, collard greens, and turnip greens. These greens are packed with highly bioavailable calcium that turtles can easily absorb.
Other great choices are broccoli, okra, and figs. Make vegetables and fruits about 30% of your turtle’s diet. You can also offer occasional treats like unsweetened yogurt, grated hard cheese, and soldier fly larvae, all of which supply additional calcium.
Use Appropriate Lighting
Proper lighting enables turtles to metabolize and utilize calcium from their diet. Make sure enclosures have full-spectrum UVA/UVB light bulbs that mimic natural sunlight. The bulbs should be rated for the enclosure size and replaced as directed.
Position bulbs over basking areas to create bright, warm spots reaching 95-100°F. Give turtles 12-14 hours of light per day and provide shade areas so they can self-regulate exposure. Using appropriate lighting supports calcium metabolism in turtles of all ages.
Dust Food with Supplements
Dusting food with calcium and vitamin D3 supplements provides added insurance against deficiencies. Lightly coat veggies, fruits, pellets, insects, and treats with a high quality powder formulated specifically for reptiles. Good options are Repashy’s SuperCal and ZooMed’s Repti Calcium.
Dust foods 2-3 times per week for adult turtles. Growing juveniles need more frequent dusting 5 times a week. Alternate plain dustings with vitamins that also contain calcium. Check supplement labels and observe turtle health to ensure proper amounts.
Give Cuttlebone
Offering cuttlebone provides turtles an additional self-regulating calcium source they can nibble when needed. Position a large chunk of bird-grade cuttlebone near basking areas so turtles take interest while thermally regulating. Make sure whole shells are available for aquatic species.
Change cuttlebone every 2-4 weeks when eroded or fouled. While turtles may not nibble cuttlebone daily, its constant availability lets them self-supplement calcium intake as desired. Cuttlebone consumption can thus prevent mild deficiencies from escalating into more problematic shortfalls.
Conclusion
Turtle calcium deficiency can lead to shell abnormalities, lethargy, twitching, and swelling. It’s often due to nutritional imbalances or improper lighting. Treatment involves adjusting the diet, providing proper UVB light, and possibly trying calcium supplements.
Prevention focuses on offering more calcium-rich foods, proper lighting, supplements, and cuttlebone. With the right diet and environment, turtles can get all the calcium they need for healthy growth and development.
