HELP ALL NEW???

[Kelly71]

Hi,
I did post that on the hot side it does get over 80 and 76 ish on the cool side. That 73 temp is night time temp? Thanks I dont know about you I have tarantulas and use the co co fiber brick stuff and get mites all the time in their cages and I cook and freeze it? lol

 

[crimson_lotus]

Hi,
I did post that on the hot side it does get over 80 and 76 ish on the cool side. That 73 temp is night time temp? Thanks I dont know about you I have tarantulas and use the co co fiber brick stuff and get mites all the time in their cages and I cook and freeze it? lol

Nope never happened to me. The temp shouldn't drop that low at night either, these guys need 80's especially while young. They are prone to respiratory infections with low temps and high humidity.

 

[crimson_lotus]

I do get occasional little flies from my sphagnum moss, though

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
Sorry that web site some one gave me is kind of confusing to me? lol Where I live Ontario,Canada I would never just go out and pick something? I would just to know what is the best green leafy stuff to feed safe everyday and veggies to buy at the store? Thanks

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
Well am confused someone else posted to me around 80 is fine over all in the cage?

 

[crimson_lotus]

Hi,
Well am confused someone else posted to me around 80 is fine over all in the cage?

That is correct, I was saying in my posts not to let it drop below 80.

 

[crimson_lotus]

Hi,
Sorry that web site some one gave me is kind of confusing to me? lol Where I live Ontario,Canada I would never just go out and pick something? I would just to know what is the best green leafy stuff to feed safe everyday and veggies to buy at the store? Thanks

I linked you to the category page. Click on Fruits and Vegetables..

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
I was also told to let it drop at night but not below 72 which at night mine does not and have 80+ on the hot side basking light and 76 ish on the cool side? Thanks

 

[crimson_lotus]

Hi,
I was also told to let it drop at night but not below 72 which at night mine does not and have 80+ on the hot side basking light and 76 ish on the cool side? Thanks

Where did you get that info?

 

[crimson_lotus]

Hi,
I was also told to let it drop at night but not below 72 which at night mine does not and have 80+ on the hot side basking light and 76 ish on the cool side? Thanks

72 is okay for adults for short periods of time (they can tolerate it, but they don't prefer it), however because your tortoise is young, I would not do that. High humidity and 72 degrees might get you one sick baby tortoise, and they do need high humidity. Red Foots also do not need temp drops at night.

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
Thanks I get it now? Can you feed the stuff at says feed in moderation more then the stuff that say feed sparingly? Sorry might be a dumb questions they seem to mean the same to us? lol

 

[crimson_lotus]

Hi,
Thanks I get it now? Can you feed the stuff at says feed in moderation more then the stuff that say feed sparingly? Sorry might be a dumb questions they seem to mean the same to us? lol

Yup you got it, I think as long as you have a varied diet you should be all set.

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
So what you are saying is also keep the heat up in the 80s at night? I need a night heat bulb then?
Thanks

 

[crimson_lotus]

The "feed sparingly" foods I feed about once a month and the "feed in moderation" foods like chicory I will feed it for a few days a month until it's gone...or bad.

I use a ceramic heat emitter for night time heat. It is all heat and emits no light. I would recommend getting one to raise the temps up.

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
Thanks but what about the cooler side in the day? I got 80-85 on the basking side and like 75 ish on the other side? Thanks

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
As you can see in my pic I think I have his 50w basking light over his humid hide? It keeps that area around 80 + on the other side it has no heat light so it is in the low 76 ish which I was told by someone I know that has one said that was ok? They also said a drop to 73 at night was ok too? I guess my thing is I cant get a heat light that wont fry him that will keep the hole cage at 80? Maybe I should also keep the night heat source on the other side in the day to keep the hole heat up to 80? Thanks

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
I did find a night heat light from my geckos I put that over the hide he is in it is about 77 better then 72 I guess right? Until I get a bigger night heater light? But if I get a bigger one it still wont heat the hole cage to 80+ the one side will stay at like 77-76 at night? Thanks

 

[Kelly71]

Hi All,
Sorry am kind of new to all this form stuff and reds? I have about a 6 month old Redfoot I just got 3 days ago from a Petsmart not the best place I know. I am having some trouble with what I was told about temps? I have him in a 20 long so it is hard with getting temps right and humidity? I was told from another Pet Store he should have a night time drop? I have been told now that is not the case? It would drop not below 73 at night. In the day I have the basking light over the humid hide. That stays around 80+ now on the other side it is like 76-77? I dont want to get a bigger heat light fry the little guy in the day? At night you guys told me it should never drop that low 73 I should keep it 80 even at night? I did find a little heat light from my geckos and put that on last night and it was better did not get below 77? Should I keep the temps up at 80 in the night and buy a better heat night light? Will that one do until I can get one tomorrow? And humidity another problem I want to mix orchid bark in with the moss and repti bark but if I have to get the orchid bark from a plant store I want to sterilize it first it most likely will have some kind of bugs? I was told cypress mulch is to poky for babys? I dont want to use co co dirt? I am very worried??

 

[tortdad]

First off forget what the pet store told you. It's obvious they don't know what they're talking about.

Redfoot don't need basking spots, some enjoy them while others don't. It's best to offer a basking area and let them decide to use it or not, mine bask every day. The basking area needs to be around 95 degrees. A tortoise won't eat if it can't warm its core body temp up to about 85. A common mistake of new tort owner is to keep it too cool which makes them stop eating, then the eyes swell shut and you have a sick tort on your hands. We see it everyday here.

Next is a temp for the rest of the enclosure. Most tort need a warm Sind and a cool side. You do not need this with Redfoot. For RF torts a constant temp of 83-86 keeps them very happy. Play with those temps a bit to see which temp they are most active at and make that your overall temp. Mine seem to like 84 degrees.

Next is nighttime temps. Low 70's is perfectly fine for a full grown adult tort. A baby, yearling and Juvenal tort should absolutely not be kept below 80 as your nighttime low. The reason for this is humidity. High humidity and low temps is a recipe for respiratory infection. You need to maintain a constant 80-90% humidity for healthy shell growth.

The best way to control temps is with a CHE ceramic heat emitter, it puts out heat only with zero light. Use this with a $30 reptile thermostat and you'll always have the perfect constant temp witch will help tremendously with keeping a healthy tort.

You need UVB, all torts, regardless of species, need it. If you can get your tort in the sun for even 30 mins a few days a week it will be enough. If not you need a UVB bulb. do not buy the cheep pet store coil UVB bulbs as they will damage your torts eyes. A good UVB bulb and lamp is going to cost you $50-$60.

I go through all of this with you because you have another HUGE beginners mistake going on right now. Your 20gal long tank is about a million times too small. There is no way you can maintain separate basking temps of 95 degrees without hearing up the entire tank. It is impossible to get 95 degrees in the tank and have the rest of the area be 85. Not to mention maintaining humidity in a small tank is super hard. You need a lot more floor space that that tank offers. You can build your own or buy cheap items and use them for enclosures. Take a look in the enclosure section of this site to get ideas. You need to know the difference between open top and closed chamber enclosures. Being that yours is a tropical species that needs high humidity I recommend a closed chamber. It makes maintaining heat and humidity a breeze.

My next question is what are you using to check temp and humidity? Is it one of those analog disk type pet store gauges? If you there are junk and your temps are not what truly thing they are. $10 at Home Depot or any hardware store gets you a digital one.

 

[tortdad]

Forgot to tell you about your substrate, which is another key area for your tort. Redfoot need damp high humidity enclosures which makes them very prone to shell rot, nasty fungus. You want something that holds moisture. For babies I like to use mulch on the bottom layer, then a layer a few inches think of plain Jane top soil mixed with some moss. You can sprinkle some light mulch back on top if you like.

You want the substrate to be damp like a forest floor not wet like a swamp. The beauty of keeping the mulch on the bottom layer is that you can pour some water in the corners of your enclosure. It goes through the soil and that mulch soaks it up. If you do it slowly in the corners and don't out too much water the top layer of soil/mulch stays relatively dry while still allowing the humidity you need. The dry top layer is what's going to prevent you from getting shell rot.