Q’s - water ingestion and enclosure temperature

LisaLew

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Hi all - I’ve been reading before and after we got our redfoot tortoise, and I have two pressing questions. She’s allegedly one year old and we’ve had her two weeks. We take her outside every evening, feed her and soak her. I can see her taking in water, and she usually has a BM at the end of her soak. However, it appears she is not using her water source at all in her enclosure. I see no evidence of entry. It’s very accessible for her. I have it on the 74 degree side (her basking side is 90 degrees). She burrows quite a bit under the basking area.

Second concern - above described temp. I set up based on reading, but see a post on here that her enclosure overall should not be less than 80. Is this best, as it disputes other sources? It sounds reasonable. And if so, how to accomplish this?
 

Maro2Bear

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Greetings & welcome. I’ll assume you have a Redfoot since you have your questions in this section. Since you just git this tortoise, it is probably still adjusting to the changes. Hopefully @ZEROPILOT and @Toddrickfl1 can come along & help you on the ambient temp questions. 74 sounds a bit cold... The attached care sheet shows 80 oversll as being ideal.


Can you attach some photos of your enclosure?

Good luck

Care Guide -https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/redfoot-tortoise-caresheet.172531/
 

Srmcclure

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You should keep it no colder than 80 in the enclosure.
Now as for the drinking the water in the enclosure, I was told for my leopard that so long as humidity is right and I'm doing my daily soaks I shouldn't worry about the water dish because he was already taking in the water other ways and was staying hydrated, but dont take the water dish away. I would think it would be the same with your redfoot, but wait for those guys to say for sure.
But pics will helps us to help you out more accurately. If your debating which info to follow, choose here. The people on here have tried all different ways and the ones listed here are what they found to give you the healthiest babies. They truly care about torts.
 

Tom

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Hi all - I’ve been reading before and after we got our redfoot tortoise, and I have two pressing questions. She’s allegedly one year old and we’ve had her two weeks. We take her outside every evening, feed her and soak her. I can see her taking in water, and she usually has a BM at the end of her soak. However, it appears she is not using her water source at all in her enclosure. I see no evidence of entry. It’s very accessible for her. I have it on the 74 degree side (her basking side is 90 degrees). She burrows quite a bit under the basking area.

Second concern - above described temp. I set up based on reading, but see a post on here that her enclosure overall should not be less than 80. Is this best, as it disputes other sources? It sounds reasonable. And if so, how to accomplish this?
What type of water dish? The ramped ones that pet stores sell are a death trap for tortoises. Literally. Some tortoises have the sense to avoid them, and other tortoises flip over and drown in them. Sounds like you might have the former.

Can we see pics of the enclosure and water dish?

You maintain an over all temp in your enclosure with a radiant heat panel or a ceramic heating element set on a thermostat. 74 is too cool for this species, and most of them aren't keen on basking either. Sounds like you've gotten the wrong care advice. Some experienced RF keepers will be along shortly and set us on the correct path.
 

ZEROPILOT

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Welcome.
The best way to keep a Redfoot tortoise and the parameters needed is to build a "closed chamber" enclosure.
This type of enclosure can be a very large plastic tote with some type of lid or anything that is shaped like one.
Search this forum for closed chamber enclosures.

If your Redfoot gets outside a few hours a week, UVB will not be critical.
However, you need an overall ambient temperature of 80 to 86.
90 and above is pretty hot for this species.
You can provide this warmth day and night with one or two CHE (Ceramic heat emitters)
These provide no light. So they'd perfect for night time. And also for a Redfoot. Because they do not like bright lights.
You may find that your household light is sufficient. (The light already in that particular room) for daytime.
Redfoot love water. They drink a lot. They love the rain and they love to spend time partially submerged in water.
Always provide a large, shallow water bowl. Like a terra cotta saucer.
As your Redfoot gets older. You'll find that it may need more room than you can provide indoors.
Can you at some point build an outdoors enclosure?
It might make your tortoise keeping much easier for you.
It has for me.
 

LisaLew

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Thank you so much. I’m so glad I found this forum, I’m embarrassed to say that I was directed to a large aquarium. We are working on planning an outside enclosure for summer and spring plus a large porch enclosure for winter. I realize she’s too small for outside enclosure now and I’ll be looking for tips here for those as we move along but I see the heat and comfort as more urgent.

We have have a wood enclosure my husband and son will be putting together this weekend for our redfoot. Yes, I see the references here to other heat sources and waiting anxiously to find out the best option for her.

Here is the water dish. I keep refreshing the water daily but no movement in. As I mentioned, she seems to enjoy her outside soaks.
 

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Srmcclure

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That water dish is dangerous for her. Definitely go grab a terracotta saucer from home depot or something. They are super cheap and the safest option for your new baby ?
 

Srmcclure

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Ignore what that temp meter says! I had just put it in there from outside haha. It stays about 83-84 in there and 95% humidity lol
 

LisaLew

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Water bowl removed and replaced. I love your enclosure, very natural looking.
 

LisaLew

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Location (City and/or State)
DFW Texas
Welcome.
The best way to keep a Redfoot tortoise and the parameters needed is to build a "closed chamber" enclosure.
This type of enclosure can be a very large plastic tote with some type of lid or anything that is shaped like one.
Search this forum for closed chamber enclosures.

If your Redfoot gets outside a few hours a week, UVB will not be critical.
However, you need an overall ambient temperature of 80 to 86.
90 and above is pretty hot for this species.
You can provide this warmth day and night with one or two CHE (Ceramic heat emitters)
These provide no light. So they'd perfect for night time. And also for a Redfoot. Because they do not like bright lights.
You may find that your household light is sufficient. (The light already in that particular room) for daytime.
Redfoot love water. They drink a lot. They love the rain and they love to spend time partially submerged in water.
Always provide a large, shallow water bowl. Like a terra cotta saucer.
As your Redfoot gets older. You'll find that it may need more room than you can provide indoors.
Can you at some point build an outdoors enclosure?
It might make your tortoise keeping much easier for you.
It has for me.

We are in Texas, so an outdoor enclosure is on our agenda. I’ll definitely pre-plan for this. Do you have a CHE brand you prefer?
 

Toddrickfl1

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Zeropilot pretty much covered it. I also agree 80-86F for ambient temperature thru out the enclosure. Anything above 90F is too hot. Redfoots prefer cooler, shady places over hot bright areas.
 

Srmcclure

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We are in Texas, so an outdoor enclosure is on our agenda. I’ll definitely pre-plan for this. Do you have a CHE brand you prefer?
I just got mine on amazon. It was a 2 pack for like $15 or $20. Doesn't have to be a name brand or anything. Mine is a 100w on a thermostat to keep it in range
 

ZEROPILOT

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We are in Texas, so an outdoor enclosure is on our agenda. I’ll definitely pre-plan for this. Do you have a CHE brand you prefer?
They all operate the same way.
You may have to decide on a certain wattage and or hanging distance to get to your target temperature.
This will vary be keeper due to your circumstances.
 
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