Hi all! I'm in South Florida and it's been really hot. I think my two redfoots are ok but want to get your knowledgeable input. They each have their own area with plants and mulch and while I wouldn't call it deep shade, it is screened and they have plants that they hide under. I also have a sprinkler that goes off every hour for a minute. Under some of the bushes it averages 85 degrees. They have been staying in their houses most of the day which are reading 86-89 degrees. Their houses are in the covered part of the lanai. I have deep coconut coir inside their houses which read about 84-85 degrees with my thermostat gun and I'm waiting on a bag of cypress mulch to fill in the other side of their house. I also have a humidifier. I have water under the covered area for them to soak in so it's not a Jacuzzi. Do you think they have enough options to keep cool? I feel like this is the hottest summer and I worry and want to make sure I'm doing enough to keep them safe comfortable in this heat. Any suggestions or ideas? Thank you!!
Florida heat too hot?
- Thread starter Taryn73
- Start date
I think you've done great to protect them from heat. @ZEROPILOT can definitely tell better (as he kept redfoots and is in Florida too).
The only thing caught my eye: a tortoise box catches some direct sun, so a parasol, shade sail or insulation/reflective cover (even simple as reflective car windshield cover) can help.
Definitely more shade, especially for RFs.
What really caught my eye is all the pavers. That is too abrasive for them to be walking and laying on every day. I think you will have plastron and foot issues eventually.
Thanks!!! I will definitely one of those!
I'll definitely incorporate more shade! They don't really lay on the pavers unless I feed them on them which is most of the time but I do bring them in at night so at the end of the day they start pacing because they want inside. Do you have any ideas of what I could do? I could maybe put down more cypress mulch on top of the pavers? Thanks!!
The_Four_Toed_Edward
Well-Known Member
Check out this thread for deep shade ideas if you haven't already:
www.tortoiseforum.org
The importance of DEEP shade
Ok, folks, we need to talk about SHADE. You have probably (hopefully) heard tortoise keepers talking about the fact that tortoises need "DEEP SHADE" to retreat into on a hot Summer day (really any day that has air temps above 80 degrees). What do we mean by "deep shade?" - this is NOT...
www.tortoiseforum.org
I'll definitely incorporate more shade! They don't really lay on the pavers unless I feed them on them which is most of the time but I do bring them in at night so at the end of the day they start pacing because they want inside. Do you have any ideas of what I could do? I could maybe put down more cypress mulch on top of the pavers?
Will do! Thanks!!Check out this thread for deep shade ideas if you haven't already:
The importance of DEEP shade
Ok, folks, we need to talk about SHADE. You have probably (hopefully) heard tortoise keepers talking about the fact that tortoises need "DEEP SHADE" to retreat into on a hot Summer day (really any day that has air temps above 80 degrees). What do we mean by "deep shade?" - this is NOT...
I think I'll buy some of these and clamp them to my moringa trees where they like to hide and clamp one on the pot next to his house. Do you think that would be sufficient? I'll get the largest ones to cover more area.
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Shade umbrella work great, just make sure to take them down when the winds pick up.
I've seen many a picture of bloody tortoise footprints walking on concrete. Its is usually from larger heavy sulcatas, but it could happen to a RF too. When the feet wear all the way through like that, it takes a long time to heal. Covering the pavers with mulch would work, but a bunch of outdoor carpeting type stuff might work too. Rubber backed mats and that type of stuff. Just make sure they aren't nibbling on the edges and that it doesn't start to unravel as it breaks down in the sun over time.
It will be tuff to cover it all, so do keep an eye on the bottoms of their feet and look for wear. Best to house them on dirt or grass.
Ok great! That's terrible about the feet.
The mats are a good idea. Maybe I'll try that. I sent this pic to a rescue asking if he was male or female but you can see his feet in the pic so I think as of now I we are good but will work on figuring out how to cover the pavers to prevent that. Thanks!Attachments
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Looks like a female to me. What did the rescue people say regarding its gender?Ok great! That's terrible about the feet.
She also said female. I pretty much knew she was female but she behaves like a male. I keep my two separated but if they are together she will bob her head at her, follow her, and try to mount her. I've read cherry heads can be more aggressive. Her name is Bruce and I still call her a him. 
Yeah. That's why they are separated and are never together.
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Plant shrubs around the edges.
Use giant pots laying on their sides and partially buried.
I only use shade cloth over my fish ponds and that's to control algae.
Redfoot will be active in the early morning and late afternoon. You'd be hard pressed to see one out in the open on a hot afternoon.
You WILL SEE them running around excitedly during an afternoon thunderstorm.
I also reccomend a sprinkler attached to a garden hose to run for at least half an hour in the middle of the day. Of course you can make something more elaborate and use a timer. That's up to your imagination and abilities
Use giant pots laying on their sides and partially buried.
I only use shade cloth over my fish ponds and that's to control algae.
Redfoot will be active in the early morning and late afternoon. You'd be hard pressed to see one out in the open on a hot afternoon.
You WILL SEE them running around excitedly during an afternoon thunderstorm.
I also reccomend a sprinkler attached to a garden hose to run for at least half an hour in the middle of the day. Of course you can make something more elaborate and use a timer. That's up to your imagination and abilities
Ok thanks!! I'll do that! I don't see them during day unless I go out there and they come to greet me. They do love the rain! I have a hose running through the middle of their areas that goes on for 1-2 minutes every hour. Everything pretty much stays damp. Since you have redfoots, my cherry head passed some gritty white/yellow toothpaste like stuff yesterday. He's did this a couple of years ago and I increased his soaking and it went away. I haven't been soaking him as long because as soon as I put him in the tub, he takes a huge drink and then constantly tries to climb out. I soak them 3-4x week. I'm going to soak him everyday for about 30 minutes. He does eat cuddle bone and I put calcium on his food about 2x per week. I came home today and there was a rock/crystal looking thing on top of the coco coir in his house where he was. Now I'm freaking out and I'm afraid he has stones or is in the process of producing stones. They get protein about 1-2x month. It may be overkill but I'm going to take him to the vet and have them do an X-ray to give myself peace of mind. Have you experienced this? Thanks!!!
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Redfoot don't produce urates. I think you might be seeing sand and gravel. Is that possible. Dehydration would also be another guess.
(They're BOTH guesses)
(They're BOTH guesses)
I think you got it pretty much covered.
