Hatchling redfoot problems. softning plastron

Michael Pancari

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I recently purchased a redfoot and cant seem to get everything right.
first his eyes were getting glazed over and that seems fine now after i raised his humidity in the bin and he seemed a little more acive. Now his plastron is beginning to get softer i noticed today after i soaked him.
i checked again hours later and its still soft. It wasn't soft when i got him. I soak him once a day for 15 minutes. Please help:(
 

G-stars

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Provide a cuttlebone for calcium and either a good UVB light or direct sun exposure. How old is the hatchling?
 

pfara

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Is the uvb source new (less than 6 months old)? Has the tortoise been allowed outside to get some sun? What kinda calcium is provided and how much?
 

Michael Pancari

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temperature is 80 or more during the day. yes it seems softer since i got the tortoise. I have not supplemented the tort besides some mazuri food once every 2 days.
 

G-stars

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How's his appetite? I would offer cuttlebone and/or sprinkle some cuttlebone on his food.
 

G-stars

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That's normal. I would make sure he's getting all of his dietary needs met and correct uv requirements.
 

mike taylor

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If his shell is getting softer the uvb lamp is not working or you have it set to high . What type of lamp are you using?
 

Michael Pancari

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Btw thank you for all the answers and replies. My favorite forum ive been apart of so far.
 

mike taylor

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I don't like them type of lamps . They get to hot and are to bright . I use a 10.0 t8 tube type fixture for uvb . Then I use 40 watt soft white lamps from wal-mart. For night heat I use a che on a thermostat . If you can't set things up like this. Try adding plants for blocking some of the brightness of your lamp . Then he should come out in the open more .
 

pfara

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repti sun 5.0. But hows he suppose to get uvb rays if he stays in the hide all day?

There was a time when I asked this question as well. I don't think that there's a definite answer on this, but I can take an (attempt at an) educated guess. I think that what little exposure our captive reds get from the uv we provide is *just* enough to keep them healthy. Yes, from what I've read and observed, baby tortoises hide A LOT while young and small. However, they get *some* uv when they walk out to eat or drink (if the light exposure is over the food and water dishes). See if you can upgrade your uvb bulb to a 10.0 because I think I've read that 5.0s really don't put out enough uvb. And also, if there are any chances for natural sun, I think that would help too.
 

Michael Pancari

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alright ill get the 10.0 tube shouldnt be a problem. But today he has decided to sleep outside the hide under the light on a rock.
 

Yvonne G

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A tortoise's shell gets soft because the tortoise isn't getting the required calcium, either from his food or from a supplement. And in order for the calcium to work inside the body, the tortoise must have UVB either from the sun or a good UVB light. Not UVA, but UVB. Calcium and UVB - quite necessary for growing tortoises.
 

mike taylor

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Yeah I wouldn't follow all of that . I would use supplements . The diet part is good but I feed more than they can eat . A tortoise in the wild walks eats hides eats walks then eats . So feed him and supplement him give him uvb or take him outside for an hour or so daily .
 
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