cuttlebone and Mercury

canucky2 · Post by **canucky2** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 8:30 pm

I just was visiting a bird store today to get my daughter a budgie. they were talking about how they just stopped giving cuttlebone, because it contains high levels of mercury. Anyone have any thoughts on this? It makes sense though.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 9:05 pm

Never heard of that. Sort of makes sense as the lakes are polluted from mercury but then all wild fish would be banned from grocery stores and that's not the case so I don't think this is right either. Did you ask them where they heard or read that? If they know of any studies to back it up or is it just heresay?

canucky2 · Post by **canucky2** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 10:55 pm

i'll call them Monday and find out.

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 7:23 am

Interesting I wonder how much?Who eats flake?I love it,even though it contains mercury.Probably not good to eat three times a day I bet.
I would believe it contains mercury.But enough to be harmful to finches I find hard to believe.The benefits I would think would be greater then harm.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:31 am

all seafood contains differing levels of mercury yet we still consume lots of it. as Gomer said flake/shark is great eating but can contain the highest levels of mercury found in seafood (the bigger the shark when caught the higher the level) I still eat it.
have never lost a finch to an overdose of cuttlefish, so I guess that I wont be worrying about it to much

bonnies_gouldians · Post by **bonnies_gouldians** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:39 am

Thanks for translating Mick, I had no idea what flake was! Over in the states they put warnings and stuff on the fish, and if they think the mercury levels are getting too high, they make a big scuff about it on the news to warn every one. I guess when I start glowing green I will realize they were right. I still give my finches cuttlebone, not like the little guys really seem to eat it a lot anyways, but I think it is better to have it than to not.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 3:21 pm

I really don't use cuttlebone hardly ever anymore. I do shave some and put it on their wet food.

I have started using F-Vite and oyster shells.

bonnies_gouldians · Post by **bonnies_gouldians** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 4:08 pm

is the oyster shell a good replacement for cuttle bone? I provide both but have never seen them eating cuttle bone, but they seem to enjoy the oyster shell, I seem them in that bowl ever now and then getting a mouthful.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 2:54 am

I only have one or two whole pieces of cuttlefish in the aviary. the rest is crushed and mixed with coarse sand, some charcoal and crushed oystershell grit, this is available to my birds all year. the gouldians are always eating it.