Hello Sheby and welcome to the forum.
How big is your Red Foot and how long have you owned her?
How big is your Red Foot and how long have you owned her?
NEWB
- Thread starter shelbymelissaxo`
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Hello and welcome 
If your tortoise is new, it is quite likely that it's just frightened. It can take tortoises a few weeks to get used to new surroundings and decide it's safe to come out and eat. (tortoises can be very slow on the uptake!)
There are a few things you can do to help:
1. You need to make sure the temperatures are correct around your enclosure. Measure them in the four important places: Under the basking lamp, at the cool end, in the warm end and the overnight minimum. If these are too low or high, your tort won't want to eat or be able to digest it's food. Let us know these temperatures and we can advise if you need to change anything.
2. Resist the temptation to stand over your tort and watch. Give it time and space to be brave and explore!
3. Make sure your tortoise is not dehydrated. It happens very easily and a dehydrated tortoise won't eat properly. A daily soak of 20-30 minutes will help. (More later)
4. Get into a routine. If your tort knows what to expect and when, it will settle more quickly. I suggest that you start the day with lights on, heat on, a soak and then feed.
My soaking tips are:
1. Soak first thing before your tort has warmed up properly to reduce escape attempts.
2. Use a high sided bowl or box so your tort can't see out
3. Use enough warm (not hot) water to just come over your tort's plastron (undershell). Get the temperature right and your not-warmed-up tort is more likely to lounge and absorb the heat.
4. Soak for a good 20 minutes. Don't worry if you don't see him drink; torts can absorb water through the skin. The length of soak is important.
5. Your tort may wee and/or poop in the water - it's more likely to concern you than him. You can change the water if it's truly disgusting. Don't worry if your tort eats his poop; it's said to improve gut flora!
6. Feed straight after the soak. Joe is always hungriest straight after his.
Tom's Beginner mistakes thread makes good reading too
2.
If your tortoise is new, it is quite likely that it's just frightened. It can take tortoises a few weeks to get used to new surroundings and decide it's safe to come out and eat. (tortoises can be very slow on the uptake!
)There are a few things you can do to help:
1. You need to make sure the temperatures are correct around your enclosure. Measure them in the four important places: Under the basking lamp, at the cool end, in the warm end and the overnight minimum. If these are too low or high, your tort won't want to eat or be able to digest it's food. Let us know these temperatures and we can advise if you need to change anything.
2. Resist the temptation to stand over your tort and watch. Give it time and space to be brave and explore!
3. Make sure your tortoise is not dehydrated. It happens very easily and a dehydrated tortoise won't eat properly. A daily soak of 20-30 minutes will help. (More later)
4. Get into a routine. If your tort knows what to expect and when, it will settle more quickly. I suggest that you start the day with lights on, heat on, a soak and then feed.
My soaking tips are:
1. Soak first thing before your tort has warmed up properly to reduce escape attempts.
2. Use a high sided bowl or box so your tort can't see out
3. Use enough warm (not hot) water to just come over your tort's plastron (undershell). Get the temperature right and your not-warmed-up tort is more likely to lounge and absorb the heat.
4. Soak for a good 20 minutes. Don't worry if you don't see him drink; torts can absorb water through the skin. The length of soak is important.
5. Your tort may wee and/or poop in the water - it's more likely to concern you than him. You can change the water if it's truly disgusting. Don't worry if your tort eats his poop; it's said to improve gut flora!
6. Feed straight after the soak. Joe is always hungriest straight after his.
Tom's Beginner mistakes thread makes good reading too
2.
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