Hi, I am a new Redfoot owner. We got a little 2 yo Redfoot at the Turtlerama in Sacramento last weekend. She (or he) is soooo sweet. I am in love. I am having difficulty finding an Active UV bulb in Sacramento. If anyone knows where I can get one, I would appreciate it. I am keeping her outside as much as possible during the day, but I worry about her calcium. Also looking for a local source of Cypress mulch. Apparently it's not environmentally friendly. I hate the alfalfa pellets we currently have. They smell like a barn! Would like to know if anyone has some other bedding suggestions. I look forward to talking with other Redfoot people.[/font]
teri, you're gonna want to read up on specific caresheets for redfoots but i'd dust your torts veggies with calcium powder once a week or so. as for the bulb, you should be able to find a UVB bulb at any decent petstore that sells reptiles. i think theres a lightbulb thread under "tortoise products". theres also a new substrate thread floatin around somewhere
Well welcome to TF. I don't currently have redfoots but I do have my eye on a few. May after I go to the reptile show coming up. Anyhow I have a few suggestions, lighting mega ray bulbs are great it is a basking bulb and a uvb bulb, they have a website for ordering. They are a little pricey but you only need one bulb and everyone I have talked to about them says thier torts are more active with these bulbs. There is another bulb that is a 10% uvb bulb and you can get those for $ 20.00 or so. If you want the $ 20.00 bulbs you can go on petco website and buy some. As long as she goes out side for 30 mins to an hour 3to 4 times a week you are fine. For calcium you can purchase reptical calcium supplement and sprinkle a little on the greens twice a week. Substrate should be sand/top soil/ bed a beast mix. You can also purchase bed a beast online. When I went to check about calsium I found this site that will be helpful to you I'm sure
http://www.kingsnake.com/rockymountain/R...edfoot.htm Although they said you could give a little spinach every once in a while, I would avoid spinach all together.
For the calcium I keep a cuttlebone in the pen. Also dust with a variety of items from Carolina Pet Supply. I like using a variety to cover all the possibilities...lol.
When not outside mine are on a combo of the bed-a-beast/sand and then some of the reptile bark stuff. Works well to keep the humidity up during the dry winter here.
http://www.redfoottortoise.com
high humidity is key. You can feed dandilions and plantain 2 weeds we all got in our yards, unless you kill them all.
Just make sure its all pestiside and herbiside free. Both those weeds are GREAT for calcium.
If she's getting plenty of sunshine, Don't bother with a UV light.
Maybe get on efor this winter when the temps drop and you might be housing her inside.