New Red Footed Tortoise keeper

I spent a month building, growing and developing a habitat for my Red Footed. Stan.Lee is recently adopted from a family who couldn't take care of her. I think it's a she, tail small and flat belly. 2 1/5 yr old. I mix food everyday, soak 5 days a week and she sleeps almost all day...question from people better then me....how much sleep do they do...and her back has u unusual back like something bit or so maybe bad pyrmiding from no moisture....Any ideas... I put coconut oil on shell 4 days a week....I know time will tell but help

Hello and Welcome. It's a great looking enclosure. However, that's the size we use for a hatchling. Your tortoise is too big for an enclosure of that size. Hopefully when it gets warmer out, you will have an outdoor enclosure for her and can enlarge the indoor winter enclosure.

wellington said:

Hello and Welcome. It's a great looking enclosure. However, that's the size we use for a hatchling. Your tortoise is too big for an enclosure of that size. Hopefully when it gets warmer out, you will have an outdoor enclosure for her and can enlarge the indoor winter enclosure.

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Y eap, I built it for a hatching, had a chance to rescue one...did it. Red foot I have doesn't walk around too much...she sleeps all day..my enclosure is 4 feet by two feet..the summer enclosure will be 6 feet by 4... I have a doctor visit In two weeks to check her health and cracks on her back. I don't see rot anywhere..but I have her one week so far...

If you can post a pic of your shell concerns we could possibly tell you if it's something to worry about.

wellington said:

If you can post a pic of your shell concerns we could possibly tell you if it's something to worry about.

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I will she is sleeping, tomorrow morning while she is soaking I'll take some photos.

Kevinrrussell said:

I will she is sleeping, tomorrow morning while she is soaking I'll take some photos.

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Shell, dark line on top separating looks a crack..Stan.Lee is eating protein, banana veggie blend...he loves bananas...canned dog food, (once every two weeks.).fresh Alfa as well daily..he sleeps all day..doesn't eat until I soak him.. every other day I mix green leaf and little fruit blend he chows down fruit..No matter how small..he picks fruits. Apple, kiwi, banana, tomatoes, grapes mangoes(I eat as well)..I haven't done squash, zuchini yet..slow motion decisions are fun to watch. I mix pumpkin, canned, when in season...we feed our 200 lb English mastiff a raw diet so some cross over...

Thank you for your Interest In guiding..

Nothing you described is worrisome, but there may be some room for improvement.

1. Habitat size: There is no hard and fast rule, but a ratio of about 8x the shell length long by half that wide is the smallest I recommend. 4x4 isn't bad, but it seems a bit snug.
2. That is a lot of food. His stomach is about the same size as his head. Wild torts gorge on tasty stuff, then sleep for days or even weeks- sounds kinda familiar!
3. In my opinion, I am not a fan of oiling or lotioning the shell. Reptile skin is waterproof, so not much goes in from the outside.
4. Damp substrates are often chilly substrates. What does the soil feel like to the back of your hand around the tank? I LOVE using undertank warming whenever possible.
5. This is another debatable topic, but basking is pretty important, even to forest species. To get a good bask on, the entire tortoise needs to be able to warm up to their target temp- top and bottom. Tortoisetrust.com has some fascinating thermal images of this.
6. I'd tweak the diet some. Lots of fruit is great, but use fruit that is less sugary and more fiber- like fresh pumpkin, squash, cucumber, bell pepper, banana peels, cactus fruits, and the like. They eat a LOT of fruit in their native range, but it is nothing like what we get here. Oh, and try mushrooms, too. They don't add a lot of nutrients, but many redfoots love'em.