Hatchling enclosure

[Ed mitch]

Looks great!

 

[Anyfoot]

These guys have been in here a couple of days now, all seem well, they are eating a lot of grass which suprised me. Also they seem to like to hide in thicker areas of grass rather than in the hides.
A quick video of this morning's feast.

 

[Anyfoot]

Mmm, not sure these guys appreciate my hides, they seem to prefer to dig in under the grass.

 

[erinlyndon]

Looks great

 

[erinlyndon]

They're so cute

 

[Anyfoot]

They're so cute

Thank you. I agree. I'm obsessed with watching them, they are even getting priority over 'walking dead'. Lol

 

[Anyfoot]

Just an observational post for you to think about.

I re-seeded this enclosure last weekend with some more grass and millet(budgie) seed because quite a lot of it had gone. I thought I'd seen these hatchlings eating the grass and millet, and also caught them with strands hanging out of their mouths. Last weekend I did a poop inspection and there was definitely grass and millet in the poop to confirm my thoughts. So although I feed them everyday they are still taking the opportunity to graze at times.
The millet only takes 3 or 4 days to shoot.

 

[Anyfoot]

These guy would rather dig into the coir and moss under the miniature palms than use the hides. I'm thinking of removing the hides and adding quite a few more palms.
This is how Image them in the wild, dug in and hidden away in the undergrowth.

 

[Anyfoot]

7 to 10wk old now.

 

[Markw84]

Absolutely fantastic enclosure for them. And how beautifully they are growing in those conditions!

 

[KevinGG]

I've only kept one yearling redfoot and only for a short while. But it was my experience that, if present, it always chose to burrow in leaf litter rather than hides. Great enclosure. Those guys are going to be smoooth.

 

[Anyfoot]

These 2 are now 3 month old, nice thin growth rings(you can see the new white keratin growth) hopefully to maintain a steady growth and smooth shape.

 

[Anyfoot]

4 months old update. Hows he looking.
I've had to rely more on groceries this past month or so, still scrounging a few weeds to mix in.
I think you can tell a difference with the width of last growth ring. Has he grown faster with less protein is what I'm thinking, I need to look into the grocery nutritional value in more detail I think.

 

[Ed mitch]

Still looking great

 

[Anyfoot]

An update shot of all 11 torts.

 

[Anyfoot]

Had to extend my hatchling enclosure due to the unexpected amount of hatchlings.
Geez, survival rate must be low in the wild.

I'll have to start finding homes soon when I'm happy with how they've grown, no point selling them on and not learning anything. The babies in the far enclosure are about 7 months now, 2 are 9 and 10 months old, some IMO show very very slight pyramiding. Ive caught some of them sat in the heat of the sun through the window, is this playing a role I ask myself. Middle enclosureure has no UVB, I will add one at 12 wks old I think. All look healthy.
Nearest enclosure has babies with UVB(uvb not in this photo, I added it after) from 6 wks on and all look healthy.
Don't know if it's a coincidence or not but I've noticed they grow smooth, then at about 6 months old they get a deep wide growth ridge, at this point they slow down drastically in growth and harden up, I have 9 that are doing this now, they have the deep ridge and are hardening off, I have one coming up 10 months that had that deep ridge, I was very concerned because it was perfect up to that stage, after about 2 months that ridge has filled and growth is carrying on smooth again, it's also hardened off, no flex at all.
The observations continue and it's all good fun.

 

[Anyfoot]

How many can you see?

 

[Greta16]

Is there 6? At least 2 spots I can see may just be discolored moss?

 

[Anyfoot]

Is there 6? At least 2 spots I can see may just be discolored moss?

Yep

 

[TempestRising]

Really good thread! I enjoyed reading about your experiments and observations! As a new comer to the forum being able To find useful information is a major help! Love the pics and your RFs look amazing!