Title
Calcium and phosphorus supplementation decreases growth, but does not induce pyramiding, in young red-eared sliders, Trachemys scripta elegans
Author(s)
Stancel C.F., Dierenfeld E.S., Schoknecht P.A.
Published
1998
Publisher
Zoo Biology
Abstract
It has been speculated that pyramiding, a condition in which the scutes of the carapace become deformed and elevated, may be caused by an imbalance in dietary calcium (Ca) and/or phosphorus (P). This was tested by feeding 48 red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans), 12-14 weeks old, one of four diets for 150 days. The control diet was 67% krill and 33% flour (DM), providing 1.38% Ca and 1.03% P. The high Ca (2.24%) and high P (2.56%) diets were created by adding limestone or sodium phosphate, respectively, to the control diet. The fourth diet contained 2.95% Ca and 2.48% P, with a Ca:P ratio similar to the control diet. Turtles were maintained in groups of four in 12 10-gallon aquariums with incandescent heat lamps and full spectrum fluorescent lamps (n = 3 tanks/diet). The incidence of pyramiding, body weight, and carapace length were measured every 50 days. Pyramiding was not induced in any group during this study, with all turtles having shells of normal shape and appearance. At the beginning of the study, the turtles weighed 8.37 ± 1.50 g (mean ± SEM), with a carapace length of 35.08 ± 1.88 mm. Those receiving the control and high Ca/ high P diets grew significantly faster in body weight than the turtles receiving the high Ca diet, with the turtles on the high P diet being intermediate (control: 10.83 ± 1.49a; high Ca: 5.82 ± .78b; high P: 7.77 ± 1.94a,b; high Ca/high P: 9.01 ± 1.88a g of gain; P = 0.013). The carapaces of turtles on the high Ca diet also grew significantly slower than those of all other groups (control: 9.87 ± 1.10a; high Ca: 5.18 ± .73b; high P: 8.22 ± 2.17a; high Ca/high P: 8.20 ± 1.07a mm of gain; P = 0.010). These data suggest that oversupplementation of calcium may be detrimental to growth performance in young turtles. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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PUB12836