New Redfoot Owner

[BastionDad]

Hello!

New red foot owner, and super excited! We just got this little guy, we named him Bastion!




So, we did some research, we wanted a lifelong buddy and we got him. We know he's gonna get bigger, and that's fine. But some general concerns have been arising as we've had him for 2 days and are noticing some issues the more we research.

Since bringing him home he's not really been eating. I know there is an adjustment period, but I want to make sure he's getting the best setup that we can provide (at the moment). Already I'm cursing the pet store people for not giving me the full knowledge I needed.

They sold us a powersun UVB 160w bulb with a deep dome lamp fixture. I understand this may not be what he likes as he likes low light? Is this detrimental? Also, here is a picture of our enclosure they gave us. This is an open top enclosure, Hence, its not going to keep humidity. it gets to about 90 in the day but low 70s at night with the light on. So hes gonna be cold and unhappy. Great. So... I'm at a loss. We put in cypress mulch mixed with coconut fiber for his bedding. How should I close off the top? He needs airflow and to be warm and humid, which living in the PNW I'm noticing it shouldn't be an issue but now I'm having a hard time figuring out how i got swindled into all the wrong stuff. We also just ordered thermometer and hygrometer electronics and a basting rock, but he's not eating. He ate some romaine hearts yesterday but nothing today.

I just want him to be ok and I feel like a bad tort dad already. I don't know what i should do. We tore and threw out the boxes for the lights and everything so now im not sure what i can even do at this point as all this setup is now what we have to work with.

 

[BastionDad]

Here's another vantage point I didn't add.

 

[MikeT307]

Getting the humidity up should be priority number 1. You can partially cover the top of the enclosure. You have the water dish in place, so soaking is available to him, this is good! Redfoots tend to spend a lot of time in the shade so keep that in mind. Check it the “easy redfoot enclosure” sticky thread for ideas.

 

[BastionDad]

We covered half the tank, it seems to hold the temp and humidity better. He gets up to about 89 on the hotside and 82 on the cool side during the day, night time holds at 70 with the lamp off, im gonna buy him a heat pad for under the tank until he outgrows it.

 

[MikeT307]

I doubt a heating pad is needed if those temperatures remain stable.

 

[Thomas tortoise]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Canadian Mojo]

I doubt a heating pad is needed if those temperatures remain stable.

70F is too cold for an overnight temperature.

Based on the warnings about heating pads for torts, a CHE on a thermostat would be a better choice for night time heat though.

 

[Cpassmore]

I got a humidity and temperature controller that works very well off of Amazon, which I hook up to a ceramic heat emitter and a humidifier. On top of that I took a piece of a plexi glass and outlined the t5 high output bulb as well as che fixture on to it and cut out the holes with a Dremel to create a very good fitting top to put on top of the screen and have had absolutely no problems maintaining the heat or humidity ever since. Keeps a perfect mid 80s farhenheit and 80 to 90 percent humidity

 

[Taylor2313]

Hi! congratulations on being a tort parent! I do understand your frustration. I was in your shoes not long ago!

for the enclosure, I use CHE for heating in a sunny area with UVB T8 Tube and a heating pad in the shaded area where my boy Taylor loves to burrow in. I use a variety of mulch- cypress chip mixed with coconut fibre, and some area has some shredded forest mulch, especially where the live plants are. it helps their roots to be moist most of the time. I also use a Betazooer reptile humidifier and it is AMAZING! it kept Taylor enclosure over 80% humidity all the time while the temp is always at 86F all the time. Taylor is happy being humid and warm! He gets pretty active after 2 weeks when we brought him home. just keep on giving your tort a daily bath and feed on daily basis, they will come out of their shell shell lol.

hope this helps!