help on redfoot cage

[Blgreek08]

Ok so im planning on getting a baby redfoot. i would like to do like a planted cage thing. i have a mixture of clovers seeds that i was gonna plant in there before i get him/her so it will be grown when i get him but i need like sizes and everything ill need......im new to tortoises so if anyone can help and suggest to me that would be great!!!

 

[theelectraco]

You are going to want to go as big as possible. Are you going to build an enclosure or buy a tank? Good idea letting everything grow ahead of time, this will also allow you to adjust your lighting to make sure you have the correct temps. If you are going to build something, closed chamber ( enclosed with a lid) is the way to go, especially for red foots. A lot of people here use coco coir or cypress mulch as a substrate because it helps with humidity. I would stay away for, reptibark, sand, rabbit pellets, etc that you sometimes see pet stores using. If you want a heat & UVB bulb in one, a Powersun is the way to go! If not, I'd recommend the zoo med ReptiSun 5.0 tube light. Check out the red foot diet threads and create a list of safe fruits, veggies, and weeds/flowers that are good for your baby. Where are you getting the hatchling from?

 

[Blgreek08]

I am not sure that was another question i had. what is a good source haha. but i haven't gotten that far yet....i would like to build it but not sure how to go about it. any ideas?

 

[theelectraco]

I would take a look through the enclosure section. A lot of members here have made tortoise tables out of wood, lined the bottom so they are waterproof, and added a plexiglass lid to keep the heat and humidity in. Tanks aren't really big enough unless you got something 75gallons or more, in which you could probably build something a lot bigger for a lot cheaper.

 

[abclements]

This forum has a ton of Red Foot Breeders! N2Torts, Tyler from tortoisesupply.com, Turtletary from Turtletary.com... I know I'm forgetting everybody! Sorry about that! But these guys do a fantastic job with their hatchlings, starting them right so you don't have to try to play catch up later with a sick tort! I would start with them and see if they have any available right now.

I'm a big fan of the tube light, ceramic heat emitter combo because it's a lot easier to control the temperature with a ceramic heat emitter on a thermostat than it is to find "the perfect height" for a Powersun due to constant changing temperatures of my room. I would have keep changing the height all the time! Also you would probably have to get a ceramic heat emitter for night time use anyways. But the Powersun sure is a great way to get UVB to your tort! You just have to decide which you think would be best for your situation.

I use coco coir as a substrate because that's what is available where i live. If I could I would do about 2 inches of wet coco coir covered in 2-3 inches of cypress mulch. The coco coir holds the humidity and moisture super well and the cypress mulch keeps the underside of my RF nice and dry and shell fungus free!

Fantastic idea letting all the weeds grow before you get a tort! I didn't do that and he always just eats the new growth every time I plant it and never lets it grow! You can buy weed seeds from tortoisesupply.com or other reptile websites or some people just go buy bird seed and evidently that grows nicely too!

Now that I've written this I went back and read theelectraco's response and I'm just repeating! But never hurts to hear it twice! This is just how I do it and it works well for me!

 

[Madkins007]

There are some articles on housing, lighting, etc. in the Tortoise Library, linked below.

 

[Blgreek08]

I have a lot of out door space as well so i was going to do something with cinder blocks or something in the back yard so he can go out in the summer. but at such a small size when you get them thats kinda scary any animal could walk up and walk away with him even a bird. anyone else worry about this stuff?

 

[theelectraco]

A lot of members have lids or screens on their outdoor enclosures also. So, where are you getting your hatchling from?

 

[Blgreek08]

im looking towards tortoisesupply.com they have some ready right now

 

[Blgreek08]

I actually am going to order off tortoisesupply tomorrow. to get them on wed. im so excited to get 2 little redfoots

 

[theelectraco]

From what I have read tortoisesupply is a great source. Congratulations!