Gretta Pics

[grettas mom]

 

[Yvonne G]

Thank you for sharing Greta with us. She's a beautiful tortoise!! I know that on another post you said you were having trouble keeping up the humidity in Greta's habitat, and it is starting to show in her carapace. Take a look at the female redfoot that Danny is selling in the "for sale" section. See how smooth she is? The bumpy shell on Greta is from being kept too dry. I recognize the moss in your picture, and it looks like you might also have coconut coir in there. What I would do is take a pitcher of water every morning and just pour it in there. Then mix it all up with your hand. You should pour enough water that you end up with a moist substrate. Just spritzing water over the habitat in a spray bottle isn't good enough.

Greta looks bright-eyed and happy! And that first picture looks like you said, "Say Cheese!"

Yvonne

 

[katesgoey]

She's a beauty!

 

[grettas mom]

Thank you for sharing Greta with us. She's a beautiful tortoise!! I know that on another post you said you were having trouble keeping up the humidity in Greta's habitat, and it is starting to show in her carapace. Take a look at the female redfoot that Danny is selling in the "for sale" section. See how smooth she is? The bumpy shell on Greta is from being kept too dry. I recognize the moss in your picture, and it looks like you might also have coconut coir in there. What I would do is take a pitcher of water every morning and just pour it in there. Then mix it all up with your hand. You should pour enough water that you end up with a moist substrate. Just spritzing water over the habitat in a spray bottle isn't good enough.

Greta looks bright-eyed and happy! And that first picture looks like you said, "Say Cheese!"

Yvonne

Thanks for the advice!! I actually just got her from Petsmart, where I work, so the damage was either done at the warehouse where she came from or at petsmart...so unfortunately, I will have to just do my best to stop the cycle...and trust me, Im working on it...I want my baby to thrive

 

[tortoisenerd]

She's pretty! What's the yellow stuff in the first picture? How long have you had her?

 

[grettas mom]

The yellow stuff is the bottom of her cage, its called coraplast. Its the same stuff thats used to make signs.

 

[Yvonne G]

In my opinion, you don't have enough substrate in the enclosure. There should be 4 or 5 inches of the stuff. However, depending upon how low the sides are, you might not be able to add 5 inches...she would be able to reach the top and climb out. I would get some coconut coir and mix it with either Play sand or clean garden soil. Then just put the sphagnum moss in the hide area. You can also plant some plants in the substrate. This helps to keep the humidity up. Take a look at Terry O's habitat for her redfoot:

http://tortoiseforum.org/thread-7950.html

Yvonne

 

[Nay]

Terryo. You should be soooo proud.. Your enclosure gets top honors(and I get the feeling Yvonne is picky!!!)
(it's s good thing!!)
And by the way Gretta is Beautiful!!!! I love those Red foots!!! I caught my Jack peaking over my shoulder thinking how much he would like her!!
Na

 

[tortoisenerd]

Does that first picture show the top of the enclosure now much above her head when she's walking around? Could she climb on her hind legs and get out? Typically you want a deep substrate and then an enclosure which when on its hind legs on top of any cage furnishings the tort can still not reach the top with its arms. Just want to make sure it's safe as many times enclosures are placed on tables (good to be up above drafts) so the tort could tumble quite a ways. I know Redfoots aren't much of escape artists compared to other breeds, but something to think about, especially if she's growing even longer. If you can ever see the bottom of the enclosure it's far too little substrate, agreed. Even for a tort who doesn't like to dig, you want them to comfortably be able to walk around the enclosure without scratching the bottom, and also to be able to snuggle into it at night or whatever. She's so cute! I love someone else's idea of putting captions on our tort photos. So much personality.

 

[grettas mom]

The first pic is of Gretta in her wooden house, which stands a foot high. You just see the shadow of her shell in that pic, I think thats what that is Also, I will work on adding more substrate to her habitat, and yes, Gretta loves to dig. She liked to dig when she was at Petsmart too...some things never change lol I do have absolutely every intention of adding live plants to her enclosure. However, the 4 plants that I bought cant go in for 6 months and I am also growing some plants from seeds and I know I cant put those in yet either because Gretta will just trample them right away. I do have some plastic plants that I am going to try in the mean time. I will post some more pics when I get more work done on her cage. Lets just say her cage is a work in progress... But I do appreciate the suggestions

 

[terryo]

Greta is a beautiful Redfoot. It took me so long to get everything just right...temp..humidity..etc. Don't worry...it will all come together.
Well, thanks Yvonne for posting Pio.