HELP ALL NEW???

[Kelly71]

Hi,
Thanks for the info? Sorry I wish I could have a better cage but I have cats? I put the day time heat light over the half log humidity hide? And down the back of the cage a is a 5. uvb high output? I did leave in his soaked forest tortoise pellets he is eating it now? The over all cage does get to about 80 but I guess I should keep that up at night also? Someone did also post on one of my other post that having it over all 80 is ok? Another thing I do have on of those ramp dishes that he can go in with not much water he can get in and out ok but some one else said dont use it? I am home all the time so I can really watch it? Thanks

 

[tortdad]

Hi,
Thanks for the info? Sorry I wish I could have a better cage but I have cats? I put the day time heat light over the half log humidity hide? And down the back of the cage a is a 5. uvb high output? I did leave in his soaked forest tortoise pellets he is eating it now? The over all cage does get to about 80 but I guess I should keep that up at night also? Someone did also post on one of my other post that having it over all 80 is ok?

Post some pictures of your tank so we can see what your working with. Closed chambers are best for Redfoots and being closed means 4 walls and a closed top (which men's cat proof too). 80 overall for day time is okay If you have a basking area of 95. As I stated before, it won't eat if it can't digest the food and it can't digest food if it can't warm its core body temp to 85.

Don't out the hide log under the basking light. It's fine under the UVB light but not the basking area.

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
He eats very good and all the time? If you look at my other post someone said they dont need a basking spot? I put the hide under the light so it would get warm and humid? And someone also said 80 over all in the tank is fine which it is a little cooler down at the other end? I have seem him get in and out of the bath and am home all the time watching him? Here is the cage and him? Thanks I think I just need to get the night time heat better?

 

[Kelly71]

Here is Sunny

 

[Kelly71]

Hi All,
Sorry I dont know how yet to delete my other threads yets? So I just looked I have an Exo Terra digital thing with heat and humidity. I have it right in the middle of the cage it is 80.7 and 50%. It would be warmer right under the light where the log is? I am going to put co co fiber on the bottom to raise humidity? What about the temp now though? I did bath him today but he is really peeling? Now I should also raise the temp at night so it does not go under 80.? I know it must be more humid I see the repti bark wet and water drops around his hide and the bottom where the bark is? Thanks

 

[Kelly71]

 

[tortadise]

I'd for sure add some coco coir. Moisten the substrate too. 50% humidity is very dry for a Redfoot! I'd also suggest an under tank heating pad! and or a Ceramic a heat Emitter(CHE) to boost the heat. 80.7 is ok for a cool night temp. But if your getting cooler at night and also spraying down that can cause a bacterial/respiratory infection pretty quick.

Sealing the top will help greatly too.

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
Thanks that is what I have a ceramic heat light 50w. On one of my other posts someone said 80 for an over all around temp in the cage for a RF is ok? Like I said I think the night temp is to cold am going to get one of those heat night lights that dont have any light just heat? Dont forget it is only a 20 long sorry I cant have a table? Thanks

 

[Yvonne G]

I'm wondering why you want to delete your other threads?

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
I dont know bc I made a new post in the Redfoot forms? Now I just looked and the gauge is in the middle of the cage 82.2 63% Now that temp is not under the heat light either? I know I have to get humidity up am going to put the co co fiber on the bottom with a thin layer of the repti bark on top? Has that? Now I know what about night time heat? Not under 80 also? Thanks

 

[crimson_lotus]

Hi,
I dont know bc I made a new post in the Redfoot forms? Now I just looked and the gauge is in the middle of the cage 82.2 63% Now that temp is not under the heat light either? I know I have to get humidity up am going to put the co co fiber on the bottom with a thin layer of the repti bark on top? Has that? Now I know what about night time heat? Not under 80 also? Thanks

Please do not have the night time heat below 80.

I would buy a ceramic heat emitter for night time heat, like everyone said before. If your night bulb is red, please replace it. They need it dark to sleep and red lights can confuse some tortoises into eating their substrate.

Please also get a better temp/humidity reader. Those circular gauges you get from the pet stores are awful and they don't read anything properly. I have this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013BKDO8/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

I have one on the hot side and one on the cool side. It measures both humidity and temperature and it's cheap.

Not having room for a bigger enclosure is a big issue. These guys can get around 10-14 inches in length, and babies grow pretty fast. To be frank, it's not fair to the tortoise.

 

[Kelly71]

Hi All,
I did go and get a 75w basking bulb so now am scared that it might be to hot?
I did have the 50w right over the humid hide. This one I had to move it more to the middle the other end. When I had it over the hide it was 88-90? Even with it in the middle more to one end the temps outside the hide are still reading like 86+? Now if that temp was not right she would try and find a cooler stop right? She sends most of her time in the hide is that normal? I still bath her? Another thing she looks like no redfoot I have seen? On the back end of her shell and front where her head is there are like orange edges? Is that because she is still so young? I have only had her like not even 7 days? Like her shell does not have a sharp ridge all around the bottom? Thanks

 

[Yvonne G]

I usually use the 100watt bulbs, so I doubt 75w will be too hot. You raise or lower it to achieve the desired temperature at carapace level.

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
What does that mean carapace level? Dumb question? To be honest I am ready to give the little guy back to PetSmart? The temps and humidity are driving me nuts? Dont forget I have a 20g long? I dont think I have the right stuff on the bottom, I think he might have eaten moss? Am just a basket case? I have the 75w more down at the one end outside his hide it is reading 83. and 65%? Is it normal for him to be in the hide most of the time? He did come out this morning and ate some, then went back in? Could I put co co fiber in and use something to like push down so it is not so lose and maybe and put a thin layer of the repti bark over it? Thanks

 

[Yvonne G]

The top shell of a tortoise is called the carapace. So you want to measure the temperature on the top of the tortoise's carapace, and not down on substrate level.

I use orchid bark or cypress mulch for substrate, and moistened sphagnum moss inside the hiding place.

You want the temperature directly under the light to be 100 or so, a little higher is ok.

Is your tortoise a baby? Baby tortoises are prey, so they stay hidden most of the time. Here's my regimen: First thing in the morning I put the babies in a tub of warm water and leave them there while I chop up their food. Then after about 20 minutes I place them in front of the food and quickly step out of their sight. When they're finished eating, they usually go back into the hiding place.

A lot of folks use coco fiber. You moisten it then pat it down firmly with the palm of your hand.

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
Thanks right it would be hotter right under the light? I think I will put co co fiber on the bottom. What about this night vision heat bulb? It is not just a red light kind of looks blue-ish I was told torts cant see in that spectrum of light? Or should I get a ceramic heater what watt a 60w? It goes 60w then 100w? It should have some kind of temp drop at night? I microwave the co co fiber first before putting it in I would like to use orchid bark but that would be to much to cook up? After it cools I put it in of course? lol Thanks

 

[Yvonne G]

"Thanks right it would be hotter right under the light?"

Yes, directly under the light it would be around 100F

" What about this night vision heat bulb? It is not just a red light kind of looks blue-ish I was told torts cant see in that spectrum of light? Or should I get a ceramic heater what watt a 60w? It goes 60w then 100w? It should have some kind of temp drop at night?"

Personally, I LIKE the black lights for night heat. But most on the Forum prefer the CHE (ceramic heat emitter). And a 60 might not be hot enough. Baby tortoises really shouldn't have too much of a drop in temperature at night. You can start letting it drop after he gets to be a year old or so.


" I microwave the co co fiber first before putting it in I would like to use orchid bark but that would be to much to cook up? After it cools I put it in of course?"

I don't like the coco fiber, so I've never tried the microwave thing.

For RF tortoises it's quite ok to have the whole habitat 80-85F degrees. You don't need a hot side/cool side. I wasn't paying attention, I'm sorry. If you have a few plants in the habitat it gives the Rf tortoise some shade and takes him out of the glare of the light. Is your tortoise a baby?

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
Yes I would say maybe under 6 months. I have a heat light down at the one end so it is reading like 83 outside the hide? What stuff do you use on the bottom ( sorry just saw you use orchid bark? I like to cook bugs out? lol I At light like I said with the night light it gets about 80 at the hide but has this weird moon like glow? lol That is a 75W? I do have plastic plants at the one side of his hide but I think he was trying to eat them and I think he might have ate the sphagnum moss? I am just going nuts with the guy? And like I said he has like ridges at the back of his shell and the front? Who knows how they looked after him at PetSmart? Someone said it was pyramiding but his is at the edge of his shell not the top middle? I know he also hates eating his greens etc with the vits on them any ideas on how to get away from that? Thanks I think I will try the ceramic heater I was told it might get to hot? Oh boy am confused? And how long can they stay out of lights etc when am changing the bottom stuff on the cage? I have only had him for 6 days? Thanks again!

 

[Kelly71]

Hi,
Should I now bath every other day now? Thanks

 

[domalle]

Hi,
Should I now bath every other day now? Thanks

Kelly,
Your little tortoise is not a redfoot, Chelonoidis carbonarius. It is a little yellowfoot, Chelonoidis denticulatus.