Worried about Little Cherry Head

Hi there!

I have a baby red foot cherry head tortoise. S/he is a sweet, active little tort. Recently he seemed to have slowed down just a little bit, but is still active and moving around when eating. I looked at his back legs today, and one seems a little smaller than the other, and the foot itself seems a little darker! I don't know how he could have injured it. I wonder if it could be a birth defect, or a broken foot?! I have an appointment for him to see a specialist on Thursday, but I'm really worried.

Any advice?

He has slowed down? What are your temperatures?

dmmj said:

He has slowed down? What are your temperatures?

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He has a little hide that he has been spending more time in. His temps during the day range from 93-98 and don't go below 80 at night. He has a little "playpen" that I put him in and scatter food around to simulate the grazing instinct. He moves with purpose for that (his butt is def lower than his front when he walks though, but I wouldn't say that's completely unusual). It's just when he is in his tank he likes to hide, which is new.

He is a classroom pet, but the kids don't touch him or play with him. So I thought he might be overwhelmed, but when he was left alone for spring break he did the same.

Thanks!

Your daytime Temps are high. Around 85 is good I wouldn't go over 88. Also have you been giving him any protein? I have a redfoot which has similar needs and without a source of protein they lose the use of their back legs

Thank you very much! Is there a source of protein that you recommend? How often? I've only had him for about a month and a half, do you think I damaged him permanently? I had been giving him some vitamin gummy supplements (the store owner said that was enough) with a wide variety of veg, plants, and fruit.

Mines favorite when he was small was Rollie polies (pill bugs) and cooked chicken. You can use mazuri too

tortdad said:

Mines favorite when he was small was Rollie polies (pill bugs) and cooked chicken. You can use mazuri too

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How often do you recommend? Any specific quantities?

Thank you everyone for being amazing!

I give mine protein once every 10 days or so

I agree that those temperatures would be very uncomfortably high.

Elke said:

Thank you very much! Is there a source of protein that you recommend? How often? I've only had him for about a month and a half, do you think I damaged him permanently? I had been giving him some vitamin gummy supplements (the store owner said that was enough) with a wide variety of veg, plants, and fruit.

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No you haven't permanently damaged him. I feed mine meal worms once a week just one or two since my redfoot is still a hatchling. If your squeamish you can give him low fat cat food. Just dice his veggies and fruit then mix in a small amount.

Cherry heads like redfoots need high humidity environments 80% range. How are you keeping him? Pics would be great

snails and slugs are a favorite of mine. pretty much any insect will do. pinky mice cooked chicken very low fat dog or cat food lots of options really. boiled egg as well.

You know you're getting the low fat dog food if it says "weight management" but honestly bugs are better

Wow! Thank you all so much!

This is Fitz! I can't seem to get a good picture of his back legs..... Hopefully the protein and temp changes will help!

That's a cute tort.

My RF babies LOVE, LOVE peeled uncooked shrimp, without tails. Also hard boiled egg, white and yolk, cut up was popular.

@tortdad, so glad someone else calls them rolie-polies, too!! I honestly didn't know what else they're called. Must be a southern thing! LOl

Yeah it took me forever to understand what people were talking about with Pill Bugs

I get the bags of freeze dried meal worms and mix both them and dog food into some Mazuri every now and then.
My RES also likes them.
No mess. No smell and no live insects.