Hello from Tampa

[jrtort]

Just purchased two little red foots from a pet shop for a Christmas gift for my son (and for our family, I know pet shop is not the best source). My guess is they are about 6 months old. Still getting heat stabilized as we have a little cold snap here. Hoping with our humidity care isn't that much of a challenge. They both were eating and now the smaller one hasn't eaten in 2 days (I think because it has been colder). Have a mercury vapor bulb heating to almost 90 and the "cool" side is in the 70s (around 75 currently). Is that too cold?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Hello and welcome.
You have a few issues. The first being that tortoises don't do well in pairs.
They are solitary animals.
Redfoot CAN live in groups of several females per Male in very large areas of land. But pairs are no good.
You want an ambient temperature of about 82 to 84 degrees. Redfoot don't require hot spots and cool spots. Just warm and very, very humid.
Humidity needs to be up and over 75% for young Redfoot. This is best done by using a "closed chamber" type enclosure.
Redfoot don't like bright lights. So heating is best done via a CERAMIC HEAT EMITTER (CHE).
Lighting and UV can be combined with one simple florescent strip lamp. I use T8 "5.0" UVB lamps for my indoor Redfoot. If you keep them outdoors for some actual sunshine a few hours a week, UV will be less critical.
Redfoot overheat. Do not let them get warmer that about 90-92. Upper 90s will cause heat stroke.
They are unusual in that this species can eat and process sugars. Fruit can be part of the diet. Fruit, flowers, greens, Mazuri tortoise diet, mushrooms and even animal protein like wet cat food. But offer a variety. Redfoot are aggressive eaters. One that doesn't eat may be ill or stressed.
Your 75 degree temperature is ok for a semi regular Redfoot temperature. But needs to be up near 80 for good digestion to take place.
75 as a night time temp would be better than daytime.
They'll need to be soaked in shallow, warm water a few times a week. And they like a water bowl that's large enough to climb into in their enclosure. A terra cotta plant saucer works well.
I also live in Florida. South East coast.
Can you provide outdoor housing for them once its warm again?

 

[LaLaP]

Hello and welcome! Glad you're getting some good advice from Zeropilot. You're in good hands.

 

[jrtort]

Hi Zeropilot and thank you. I have read a lot of conflicting information about what type of temperature and care they need, it is quite frustrating. Ranging from they need a hot spot and need to bask to that they don't, and just need it warm and humid like you mentioned. We already pretty much decided we don't like the mercury bulb, mainly because we cannot put a thermostat on it and don't feel safe leaving it on all day with no one home. But I agree in that using the ceramic heat emitter and other light seems to be the way to go They probably will get a few hours of outside time a week, but if not, what should we use for UVA? I have been soaking them daily and they have a water dish in their enclosure. Once it warms up we can put them in an outside pen but we were thinking a tortoise table on our screened porch because they are so young?

I hear you on having two. I guess it is too late now. I had looked into this and saw that they could be housed together, but I had to keep an eye on them to make sure they were both thriving. I didn't realize two was an issue. Hopefully the one eats. Our house is not what you would call calm with two little boys. So I may have to separate it and put it in a calmer part of the house. Should they eat daily when they are this young?

Thanks again, your help is much appreciated.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

This is a T8 florescent light.
This one is 18" and has a "5.0" tube.
This is all of the light and UV that you'll need.
(For a Redfoot in a low sided enclodure)

 

[ZEROPILOT]

And YES.
Babies eat every day.
Unless, like I said, one is stressed or ill.
He hasn't eaten anything?
Have you offered fruit yet?
Are you soaking them?

 

[jrtort]

Hello. Yes, I've been soaking them everyday and offering fruit. The one that wasn't eating ate a good bit today (strawberry, cantaloupe & dandelion). She seems much more shy than the other one so I will need to keep an eye on her. I hand fed her the fruit. Thanks for all your help so far.