HELP ALL NEW???

[Kelly71]

Hi All,
Please be nice as am new to all this and my new little guy? I just got a new around 6 month old Redfoot? I have looked alot up and you just get over whelmed? I know it is not the best but I had to put my new little guy in a 20 long you see I have bad cats? lol I know it is not the best either but..I had to save my guy from a Petsmart store. They had it on co co dirt, which I didnt like very much it got caked all over him? I was told and got my set up from another store that has an adult Redfoot. I am using the Repti Bark and on one side mixed in sphagnum moss and also have a resin half log that am using on the hot side with a better layer of the moss for a humid hut? On the cool side I have his water dish pool with a ramp to go in? Now here is where it gets tricky on the hot side it gets no more then 84 and around 75 ish on the cool side? At night it never goes down over 72? Now the guy at the Pet sore that has one said 84 should be fine it is hard to get the temps just right in that size of tank? The humidity is another tricky thing thank God am home all the time? lol I try any never let it get lower then 70% but when the hot light is on it goes fast? I find myself misting often? Is that ok? Or is there something else I can use? I dont want to use the dirt and I was told the cypress mulch is pretty like sharp poky for a baby? What about orchid bark? Now after an hour yesterday I fed him his veggies leafy greens with some tomatoes and soaked the Forest pellet food? He came running out and ate right away which I thought was a good sign? I put the veggies on top of the wet pellet food and sprinkled the vits all over both? They said put vits every other day just not to over dose? He went back in the hide. Later in the day I gave him a warm bath? His shell to me was looking dry? I also put very little of this Vitashell cream stuff? It made his shell look better? How often can I use that do you think? I have a 50w basking bulb on the hot side and a high output reptisun hood along the hole cage at the back T5 HO 5.0 UVB? Right now when I looked it was 73 and 61% humidity? The lights are not on yet? I am also going to feed him butter worms I was also told to shake them in the vits before giving them? How many a week should he eat? After his bath and I put him in he did take his own bath then got out and went in his hide? I really have not seen him much? Should I be worried? Please let me know how am doing and any of your input? Thanks again!

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Kelly, and welcome to the Forum!

You really don't need a hot side/cool side with RF tortoises. It's fine to have it overall 80F or so. One of our moderators, madkins007, wrote or compiled a lot of good info on RF tortoises and you can find it at the Tortoise Library

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
Yes so much for the welcome! lol I have never had a tort but have always wanted one! I just won $5000. so guess what the first thing I bought was? I have had Crested Geckos, tarantulas, all kinds of dogs,cats? lol So it sounds like am doing ok? I cant get it over 84 on the hot side thats ok?Thanks

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello Kelly and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum to you and your tort.
What a lucky thing you are to win all that money.
We love pictures here, so some photos would be nice if you could manage it.
As Yvonne says your tort will be ok in temperatures of about 80° all over the tank, so 84's fine.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Welcome, Kelly, from Florida

 

[Jodie]

Welcome to the forum. Would love to see pictures of your tortoise and enclosure.

 

[Kelly71]

Hi All,
Thanks to everyone for the warm welcomes! I will get some pics when I can of everything? I do have some other questions? Like I said I soak the forest tort pellets put that on the bottom and his salad on top, I would feel better if he did eat some of the real tort pellets? How do you guys get them to eat both? And am also having the humidity problem I cant keep it high? When ever I look it is like 50% I spray warm water around the tank and the bark and moss but in no time it is gone again? Would it be better if I ad orchid bark with the repti bark and moss? I do see drops around the outside of his humid hide that is a resin half log? I dont want him to get that shell rot? Should I cook the orchid bark first also? Should I bath him once a day? Thanks Just want what is best! Is it alright that he spends most of his time in the hide? ps I did also notice and was told that on the top of Sunnys head and wrinkles on his neck it is like flaking off like a sun burn I guess is to say somewhat it looks like?

 

[Yvonne G]

I would rather my tortoises ate fresh food. I have given them Mazuri Tortoise Diet, just to get them used to the smell and flavor in case there's ever a time when fresh food isn't available to me, but mainly I give them fresh food.

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
Thanks do you soak the Mazuri pellets also? It is I just want to make sure he is getting all the vits etc that he needs to be healthy? He eats such a small amount first thing I feed him in the morning and then leaves it? I have read alot but what are the best greens and veggies to feed on a daily bases that you have found? And is there any right kind of the Mazuri food for torts to buy, what kind should I buy?

 

[Yvonne G]

The type of Mazuri for your tortoise is called Mazuri Tortoise Diet. And, yes, I sometimes soak them in aloe vera juice, but mostly I use warm water.

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
I just found out that there is a Mazuri Tortiose food LS? Should I feed him that kind better? Thanks

 

[144 Grandpa Turtle]

I would rather my tortoises ate fresh food. I have given them Mazuri Tortoise Diet, just to get them used to the smell and flavor in case there's ever a time when fresh food isn't available to me, but mainly I give them fresh food.

Hello Kelly welcome to the TFO from AZ . And I agree , I do the same .

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
Thanks what is the best greens leafy and veggies to feed him daily safe? There is 2 kinds of that Mazuri food normal and LS which should I get? Thanks

 

[Kelly71]

Hi All,
So I was able to get some pics of Sunny and cage? Let me know what you think of both? ThanksView attachment 127194 View attachment 127194

 

[Kelly71]

set up

 

[Killerrookie]

Hi All,
So I was able to get some pics of Sunny and cage? Let me know what you think of both? ThanksView attachment 127194 View attachment 127194 View attachment 127195

Wow he's so dark in color and very beautiful and unique!!!!

 

[Kelly71]

sun burn? lol

 

[Kelly71]

Sorry guys not so good yet on doing the pics? You can see his skin flaking off? lol His shell is alot better looking in just the 2 days I have had him? Thanks

 

[crimson_lotus]

Hi All,
Thanks to everyone for the warm welcomes! I will get some pics when I can of everything? I do have some other questions? Like I said I soak the forest tort pellets put that on the bottom and his salad on top, I would feel better if he did eat some of the real tort pellets? How do you guys get them to eat both? And am also having the humidity problem I cant keep it high? When ever I look it is like 50% I spray warm water around the tank and the bark and moss but in no time it is gone again? Would it be better if I ad orchid bark with the repti bark and moss? I do see drops around the outside of his humid hide that is a resin half log? I dont want him to get that shell rot? Should I cook the orchid bark first also? Should I bath him once a day? Thanks Just want what is best! Is it alright that he spends most of his time in the hide? ps I did also notice and was told that on the top of Sunnys head and wrinkles on his neck it is like flaking off like a sun burn I guess is to say somewhat it looks like?

I would keep soaking daily because he's still a baby and needs to stay hydrated. Orchid bark is a good substrate - you can pour warm water in the sides of the enclosure to keep it moist, but not soaking wet. You can cook it if you want, I don't do that to my substrate before using it, however I use coco coir and that does not attract bugs or mold.

73 is too cold, please get it up to 80-85 degrees. They thrive in high humidity (80% or so) environments so definitely put a board or something on top of that screen to keep the heat and humidity from escaping. You could also purchase a humidifier and connect it with a tube to the inside of your enclosure. He is flaking and probably has watery eyes as well due to the low humidity, and humidity helps hydration as well.

I would also get rid of that water bowl, it is a flipping hazard and many tortoises have drowned trying to get in and out of it. Get something like a terracotta saucer you can bury into the substrate so he can walk in and out easily.

Mazuri LS seems to be better for them, but the regular Mazuri is more popular with the tortoises.

Also, please consider getting a bigger enclosure. Those tanks are expensive and really too small. You could buy a christmas tree storage bin for real cheap and get more room, or you can make your own out of wood.

 

[crimson_lotus]

Here is a link to a site that tells me what is good and not good for my tortoise to eat:

http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/site/plants_19.asp

Keep in mind anything with oxalic acid should be fed sparingly. Feeding a lot of food (like spinach or kale, brusselsprouts, collards) that are high in oxalates can cause kidney stones. Everything is marked on the site accordingly, so you can feed at your own risk. They explain why the foods aren't good, which I really like.

Also, protein should be fed once every 2 weeks to a month, and fruit should not be fed daily. I would say protein is 5-10% of their diet at most, fruits are around 20-25%, and the rest are greens. My tortoise really likes mango, cactus, collards, arugula, and hibiscus. She also really likes boiled shrimp and chicken.