Very New.... Do I need to cover an outdoor tortoise pen

Smith141

Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2022
Messages
30
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
First of all, let's see pictures of your new pet to be sure we're talking about the same species.
Next, did you put up posters around the neighborhood to try to find the animal's owner.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7375.jpg
    IMG_7375.jpg
    203.9 KB · Views: 1
  • IMG_7335.jpg
    IMG_7335.jpg
    198.4 KB · Views: 1

Smith141

Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2022
Messages
30
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
Hello, this isnt a redfoot - is a box turtle
I am not sure you are talking to me or not? I am getting confused with all the responses but I am pretty sure this is a red foot tortoise. I have researched him to death. I even went to a great tortoise store near me. Nick's Pets to see his red foot tortoises and I showed him the pictures I took of my guy and he said that is what I have.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7375.jpg
    IMG_7375.jpg
    203.9 KB · Views: 1
  • IMG_7335.jpg
    IMG_7335.jpg
    198.4 KB · Views: 1

Smith141

Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2022
Messages
30
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
@ZEROPILOT should be able to help you out. Good luck and nice find.
He is so cute. I love him so much already. I gave him a bath and brushed his shell with a little brush and wiped his legs and head with a soft toothbrush I just bought and he loved it so much he went back and bathed again... He is so funny. I am so attached already. I don't know how old he is? How can I tell? I am truly hoping he isn;t like 50 years old. I really want to have him forever.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7376.jpg
    IMG_7376.jpg
    282.8 KB · Views: 3

Smith141

Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2022
Messages
30
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
It IS a Redfoot and probably a male
He's a small adult. Probably ten years old. And his shell carapace is very smooth. Thanks to a nice life in south Florida.
What are you feeding him?
hi! Thank you so much for your kind response and being so helpful to me. I am feeding him chopped romaine, green peppers, mushrooms, strawberries, papaya, grapes - i did tomatoes but I think that was wrong? He loves the fruit. I did buy some soft pellets that were delivered today from amazon. They are forest tortoise adult daily diet exo terra? Is that correct or should i return it? Should I feed him everyday? I bought a cuddle bone for him that gets delivered tomorrow.Should I be doing anything else? I researched all the plants in his pen to make sure I was buying nothing that was dangerous to him. He was free to me and I think I have spent $400 so far on him this week...LOL
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7377.jpg
    IMG_7377.jpg
    345 KB · Views: 6

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
Moderator
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 16, 2014
Messages
28,938
Location (City and/or State)
South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
hi! Thank you so much for your kind response and being so helpful to me. I am feeding him chopped romaine, green peppers, mushrooms, strawberries, papaya, grapes - i did tomatoes but I think that was wrong? He loves the fruit. I did buy some soft pellets that were delivered today from amazon. They are forest tortoise adult daily diet exo terra? Is that correct or should i return it? Should I feed him everyday? I bought a cuddle bone for him that gets delivered tomorrow.Should I be doing anything else? I researched all the plants in his pen to make sure I was buying nothing that was dangerous to him. He was free to me and I think I have spent $400 so far on him this week...LOL
The diet sounds fine. Tomatoes are also fine. Just mix it up and try not to feed the same stuff all of the time.
The pellets you want (If you want them) is the Mazuri 5M21.
I get mine at GRIFFS feed store in Davie Florida.
The more commonly found type is Mazuri LS. Most tortoises aren't too crazy about it. My RF won't eat it. And that's saying a lot because they'll eat anything.
 

Sarah2020

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Mar 16, 2020
Messages
1,604
Location (City and/or State)
London, UK
Looks a nice well kept tortoise. Glad your providing for him. Have you checked with a vet if he is micro chipped?
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
Moderator
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 16, 2014
Messages
28,938
Location (City and/or State)
South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
hi! Thank you so much for your kind response and being so helpful to me. I am feeding him chopped romaine, green peppers, mushrooms, strawberries, papaya, grapes - i did tomatoes but I think that was wrong? He loves the fruit. I did buy some soft pellets that were delivered today from amazon. They are forest tortoise adult daily diet exo terra? Is that correct or should i return it? Should I feed him everyday? I bought a cuddle bone for him that gets delivered tomorrow.Should I be doing anything else? I researched all the plants in his pen to make sure I was buying nothing that was dangerous to him. He was free to me and I think I have spent $400 so far on him this week...LOL
He look larger and even smoother in this photo. So he might be older. And may be wild caught.
What exactly is his size?
I might be wrong with my original guess at his age
 

Smith141

Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2022
Messages
30
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
He look larger and even smoother in this photo. So he might be older. And may be wild caught.
What exactly is his size?
I might be wrong with my original guess at his age
I hope he isn't very old. I am hoping to have him for a long time. I will measure him when I get home. I am hoping he isn't older than 10....
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
Moderator
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 16, 2014
Messages
28,938
Location (City and/or State)
South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
I hope he isn't very old. I am hoping to have him for a long time. I will measure him when I get home. I am hoping he isn't older than 10....
From what I understand, Redfoot live more or less as long as a human in good health.
So no matter what this tortoise will be around for many more decades.
Take a photo with something else in it for comparison. Like maybe a foot or a shoe.
 

Smith141

Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2022
Messages
30
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
From what I understand, Redfoot live more or less as long as a human in good health.
So no matter what this tortoise will be around for many more decades.
Take a photo with something else in it for comparison. Like maybe a foot or a shoe.
Ok he woke up and now I got to measure him he is around 10" from the head of the shell to back of shell not head included... It is around 6" wide...does this help. He is so cute. I am feeding him once a day. Is that ok or should I feed him twice? He seems to LOVE food. I ordered the Mazuri food you said. 5M21. I think I get it tomorrow or Saturday
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
Moderator
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 16, 2014
Messages
28,938
Location (City and/or State)
South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
Ok he woke up and now I got to measure him he is around 10" from the head of the shell to back of shell not head included... It is around 6" wide...does this help. He is so cute. I am feeding him once a day. Is that ok or should I feed him twice? He seems to LOVE food. I ordered the Mazuri food you said. 5M21. I think I get it tomorrow or Saturday
At that size I'm happy with my guess of ten years old.
He does look to be in very good condition
 

Smith141

Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2022
Messages
30
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
At that size I'm happy with my guess of ten years old.
He does look to be in very good condition
Should I take him to a vet to be checked out? Does he need shots?
I am going to ask a question which may sound a bit silly....
I know everyone has this whole salmonella issue with tortoises.
I was really a bit nervous cause I am a germ nut already. Everyone was like get rid of him and that is crazy you want to have a pet that carries salmonella...
But I love him so much I literally want to hang out with him and play with him A LOT and I just wonder if I keep the pen really clean and keep him clean and not walking all over his poop etc... is there a chance he won't carry salmonella?
I wash my hands a lot so I am not that concerned but he is just so cute - I want to hang out with him every time he is awake if I am not working. His pen is right in front of my office window at home so I watch it all day like a NUT!!! lol
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
Moderator
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 16, 2014
Messages
28,938
Location (City and/or State)
South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
I don't take any of my tortoises to a vet unless I think they are ill.
I do not advocate getting shots. Period. Except as a last resort.
But if you ever NEED to get to a vet. Use BROWARD AVIAN AND EXOTIC ,(From the TV show) in Deerfield Beach
It's worth the drive because Dr. K and Dr Pardini have tons of tortoise knowledge and experience.
As for the disease issue. You can sure wash your hands. When I got started again into tortoise keeping I had hand sanitizer stations everywhere. Now I don't give it a second thought...
I'm the poster child for cross contamination at this point. And I'm fine. You'll be fine too.
Just use common sense and don't be paranoid
 
Last edited:

Cathie G

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Aug 9, 2018
Messages
14,904
Location (City and/or State)
Lancaster
Yes like ZEROPILOT said. Have you stopped eating chicken because of the threat of salmonella? I haven't. I just wash my hands after handling it for cooking.🤗 Some of my family members that thought they were being scientific said the same thing to me.😁😜
 

Smith141

Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2022
Messages
30
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
Yes like ZEROPILOT said. Have you stopped eating chicken because of the threat of salmonella? I haven't. I just wash my hands after handling it for cooking.🤗 Some of my family members that thought they were being scientific said the same thing to me.😁😜
I was concerned but I got over it. I now hold him on my tummy and walk with him sometimes. My neighbor came over and kissed him. I haven't done that at all. But I hold him and play with him all the time. He is seriously my little buddy. I named him buddy. He is so cute.
 

Smith141

Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2022
Messages
30
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
I don't take any of my tortoises to a vet unless I think they are ill.
I do not advocate getting shots. Period. Except as a last resort.
But if you ever NEED to get to a vet. Use BROWARD AVIAN AND EXOTIC ,(From the TV show) in Deerfield Beach
It's worth the drive because Dr. K and Dr Pardini have tons of tortoise knowledge and experience.
As for the disease issue. You can sure wash your hands. When I got started again into tortoise keeping I had hand sanitizer stations everywhere. Now I don't give it a second thought...
I'm the poster child for cross contamination at this point. And I'm fine. You'll be fine too.
Just use common sense and don't be paranoid
What do you use to wash your red foot? I bought a toothbrush and a small brush to wash his back and I just don't know what to use besides water?
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
Moderator
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 16, 2014
Messages
28,938
Location (City and/or State)
South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
What do you use to wash your red foot? I bought a toothbrush and a small brush to wash his back and I just don't know what to use besides water?
I don't wash them. But I've cleaned them with paper towels before and I've used wooden popsicle sticks to remove shell fungus in the past
 
Top