First time owner

[Dexter111]

Hi all, I'm glad I found this place. It seems like a very good resource. Yesterday I purchased my first tortoise (cherry headed red foot) and built a terrarium when I got home. The tortoise is 4 months old. I was told it would take some time to adapt to its new environment but it was eager to eat last night and today it has spent quite a bit of time burrowing and exploring its new home. I look forward to learning much more about its species on this forum.

Any tips for a first time owner of a 4 month old?

 

[Angi]

Hi Dexter. You are on the right forum to learn, but not from me. I don't know anything about Red Foots. I would love to see a picture of your baby and her home. Also please post info about how you are caring for her and I am sure you will get some great advice, much better than whatever the pet store told you LOL.

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Welcome!

 

[coreyc]

Welcome to the forum Dexter ( love your show ) some one that has RF will be a long to help you out we love pic's when you get a chance

 

[Robert]

Welcome. There are some very knowledgable red foot owners on this forum.

Good luck. May we see some pics of your tort and your enclosure?

Is your name Dexter? Where are you located?

 

[dmarcus]

Welcome to the forum, there are a lot of very knowledgeable tort owners on this site who are always willing to help..

 

[ChiKat]

Welcome to the forum!! We would love to know more about your tortoise's enclosure, diet, and how you plan on caring for it. Pictures are always great too

 

[Dexter111]

Thanks all. I will post a picture shortly. Dexter is what I named the Tortoise, not my name. I'm located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Today I bought some Kale and Collared greens. Fed him that along with a small amount of cut up apple, zucchini and mango. The person I bought it from said I should feed him once a day, a pile about twice his size.

I put him in water for about 30 minutes this morning.

---

Last night, eating lettuce when we got home

His terrarium as it looks now. He ate for quite a while and spread it out. He's underneath his log canopy now.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Dexter111:

Welcome to the forum!!

Since your tortoise's name is Dexter (and a good name it is!), what should we call you?

 

[CtTortoiseMom]

Dexter is a cutie, hi & welcome!

 

[Jacob]

Welcome, you came to the best forum for answers!
hes a cutie, and make sure you give him a good diet, etc!

 

[pdrobber]

welcome

 

[Dexter111]

Hi Dexter111:

Welcome to the forum!!

Since your tortoise's name is Dexter (and a good name it is!), what should we call you?

Thanks! My name is Gil.

 

[Dexter111]

Is placing my ceramic heater on top of my cage / partially on the wood, a fire hazard? Do all of you have your heater on a clamp?

 

[bikerchicspain]

Hi and welcome Gil,

Yes having a ceramic heater on wood is a fire hazard, Although yours does not look there is to much wood, just keep an eye on it for scorch marks,
I have and I think most members here have got them in a clamp lamp.
Lovely baby, congrats on your new addition.

 

[dmmj]

Welcome
Does the holder for the CHE come into contact with the wood? If so I would say move it so it does not, I would consider it a fire hazard

 

[Dexter111]

Thanks guys. I bought a lamp stand and hooked it up this morning. Now it hovers over the terrarium.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Gil:

Here's a link to redfoot care:

http://www.tortoiselibrary.com

http://www.turtletary.com/redfootcare.htm

 

[Dexter111]

Hi Gil:

Here's a link to redfoot care:

http://www.tortoiselibrary.com

http://www.turtletary.com/redfootcare.htm

Thanks, these are great. Very much appreciated

 

[Mean Guy]

Welcome Gil, after you get settled in you should go to the Enclosures sub forum and see if anything there interests you. There are some real good ideas for enclosures there and it may help you to decide how you want your little gal/guy's environment to be. This place was a godsend to me and my sons tort. We knew absolutely nothing about care for torts.