red-foot help!!!!

[REDfoots]

Hi I have 2 red footed tortoises And I have read on here that you could give them dog food so I got some. I also got some fruit mix where you add water to make it fresh its says its for tortoises. Then I saw on here that I need to get some sort of mineral supplement so I took a pi tire to see if this is the right kind or if I shouldn't get it. so please reply I need answers ASAP

 

[theelectraco]

Hi I have 2 red footed tortoises And I have read on here that you could give them dog food so I got some. I also got some fruit mix where you add water to make it fresh its says its for tortoises. Then I saw on here that I need to get some sort of mineral supplement so I took a pi tire to see if this is the right kind or if I shouldn't get it. so please reply I need answers ASAP

I wouldnt feed dog food to my tortoise if I were you. I have heard of some people doing it, but it depends on the amount you use, how often, and the quality of it. I would advise you to skip the dog food. If you want a commercial tortoise food, try Zoo Med Forest Tortoise Diet or Mazuri. The freeze dried veggies are *okay* as part of a veried diet. I would encourage you to feed your redfoots greens, weeds, grasses and fresh veggies over dog food and freeze dried veggies. Depending on the veggies or foods you offer, a calcium supplement may be necessary.

 

[kathyth]

You might look at Turtletary.com.
I follow Terry's diet using his suggestions for protein.
Dog food is not recommended.
My Redfoots are very healthy.

 

[mike taylor]

You might look at Turtletary.com.
I follow Terry's diet using his suggestions for protein.
Dog food is not recommended.
My Redfoots are very healthy.

Yep,I follow his diet to but I don't use the cat food .I use chicken.

 

[Redstrike]

I like to follow the feeding guidelines found in Mike Pingleton's book (http://www.pingleton.com/redfoot/redfoots.htm) and those outlined at http://tortoiselibrary.com/. As theelectraco said, I feed mine primarily outdoor weeds when they are available. I even grow some for feeding during winter. I provide fruit once every week or two with a serving size no larger than their heads. Zoo Med/Mazuri is on a similar rotation to fruits but with a larger serving size.

Read up and decide what you think is best. I would suggest skipping the dog food, but I don't think a high quality dog/cat chow would harm your tortoise. Having said this, why not use a commercial food designed specifically for them???

 

[Madkins007]

A SMALL amount of a good-quality dog or cat food is not a big deal, but lots of dog and cat foods are high in fats, etc. and captive red-footeds just don't need as much 'meat' as lots of books say they do (they like meat, though, so it is a nice addition to their diet.)

Mike Pingleton's book is really good! I tried hard to follow his and other expert recommendations when I put the Library together, and I also tried to offer several good plans in the Library so you could select the one that fits your situation the best. You can probably find ideas there that are better, cheaper, and easier than what you are doing.

Mineral supplements should not be needed if you are offering a good diet, but a little is a good idea as insurance- and it should only take a little! Pretty much ANY decent quality multi-vitamin and mineral supplement sold for people, babies, dogs, birds, reptiles, etc. will work- most living things need about the same kinds and ratios of nutrients. I just use the generic brand tablets I get for me and crush one up nice and fine, then sprinkle a little of it on something wet in the tortoise's food (so it kind of dissolves and they cannot taste it as much.) I add a little pinch about once a week- a little more often if they are not getting as good of a diet that week for whatever reason.

 

[FLINTUS]

I do give mine premium(and I mean PREMIUM-very expensive) dog drie pellets now and again.

 

[Watsonpartyof4]

Hi I have 2 red footed tortoises And I have read on here that you could give them dog food so I got some. I also got some fruit mix where you add water to make it fresh its says its for tortoises. Then I saw on here that I need to get some sort of mineral supplement so I took a pi tire to see if this is the right kind or if I shouldn't get it. so please reply I need answers ASAP

Hi! Welcome and keep the questions coming! I am so happy you have sought out advice! The are a lot of friendly people on here that want to help you have a happy thriving tort! Don't get discouraged or feel bad if what you thought was right isnt good for your tort, we have all been there and done that! All we can do is correct our mistakes and provide the best for our shelled friends. If you have not done so, find a reptile vet in your area. You never know when an emergency is going to happen, and when they get sick, they go down hill very fast it is good to have someone to call. A couple of things to have on hand... Some carrot baby food and pedialyte. In case they get sick this is a great soak to help them until you get to the vet. I hope you never have to use it.
Occasionally they may need to have their beaks trimmed, if they are not wearing them down ... Please let your vet do this and make sure they use a dremmel. A cracked beak from improper trimming is not only painful for your tort but can be life threatening if they can not eat or it gets infected! Your vet can also trim their nails if they get too long. My torts beak grows very fast, and it is only $15 to take him in and get it dremeled. I do that about twice a year.

Always pick fresh over dehydrated!

I feed mine spring mix salad greens, baby kale, collard greens, parsley, endive, dandelion greens, green peppers, shredded carrots, squash, zucchini, cooked sweet potato, green beans, strawberries, peaches, pineapple, blue berries, raspberries, tomato, mushrooms and of course Mazuri

You can buy Mazuri online thru them. A small bag will run you about $14 bucks delivered to your door, and it is quick about 24 hour delivery. The small bag lasts me about two-three months when he was smaller.

I feed mine about 12 pellets soaked in water for a few minutes until they get soft. 2-3 times a week with a small about of greens and vege and a small amount of greens in the evening. Depending on your size and age you may want to try 4-6 pellets for each tort.

On the days he doesn't get Mazuri, I feed the vege and greens in the morning and greens in the late afternoon. He gets fruit in the evening every other day.

I also use a calcium powder that gets sprinkled on his Mazuri. This is important. I also have a cuttle bone, like a bird uses. They love to eat them and it is a good source of calcium.

He always has a water dish big enough for him to soak in...that gets changed at least twice a day ... More if it gets dirty. I wash it every time I change it and rinse well. If I would not drink out of it, my tort shouldn't either. He also gets soaked 3-4 days a week..mainly so I can check him out and make sure he is ok ... He also enjoys it! fill water just past the skirt on the bottom of his shell. Water should be warm, but not hot!

Make sure you are scooping poo and old food out of his enclosure ASAP, if not you will get bugs, those annoying fruit flies!

As far as substrate I use Eco Earth. It is also nice to have plants inside his enclosure for them to hide under ... Spider plants are easy,just make sure you transplant them. What I do is take it our of the pot it came in and wash it in hot soap water I then shake loose all the dirt and plant in new soil that is fertilizer and pesticide free in the clean pot they came in. I then dig a hole in the substrate and plant the pot. Don't forget to water ! My tort likes to eat the spider plant... It is safe for them to do that.

Make sure you have a UVB or MVB they will need to be changed BEFORE they burn out ..6 months or so...MVB tend to last longer and are more expensive, but it is what I prefer.

They need humidity .. Lots of it! I mist his enclosure several times a day .. I also add water to the substrate and mix it up several times a week ... You don't want it wet, but damp.. You will notice it drys out quick.

Temps should range from 70's at night to 80-85 and a hot spot of 90 that way they can warm up or cool down as needed ... I keep water dish by the hot spot so it stays warm.

They are a lot of work .. More than a dog or cat ... Welcome to the world of Redfoots!

This is information that I got from some wonderful people of this forum, I am not an expert! This is the way I keep my Redfoot I have had him three years. I got him at a pet store and he was unhealthy and sick with pyramiding, with the help from some great people on here, he is healthy and thriving! Take this for what it is ... Advice! These are not hard and fast rules, this is what works for me.

Dawndy

 

[mike taylor]

Hi! Welcome and keep the questions coming! I am so happy you have sought out advice! The are a lot of friendly people on here that want to help you have a happy thriving tort! Don't get discouraged or feel bad if what you thought was right isnt good for your tort, we have all been there and done that! All we can do is correct our mistakes and provide the best for our shelled friends. If you have not done so, find a reptile vet in your area. You never know when an emergency is going to happen, and when they get sick, they go down hill very fast it is good to have someone to call. A couple of things to have on hand... Some carrot baby food and pedialyte. In case they get sick this is a great soak to help them until you get to the vet. I hope you never have to use it.
Occasionally they may need to have their beaks trimmed, if they are not wearing them down ... Please let your vet do this and make sure they use a dremmel. A cracked beak from improper trimming is not only painful for your tort but can be life threatening if they can not eat or it gets infected! Your vet can also trim their nails if they get too long. My torts beak grows very fast, and it is only $15 to take him in and get it dremeled. I do that about twice a year.

Always pick fresh over dehydrated!

I feed mine spring mix salad greens, baby kale, collard greens, parsley, endive, dandelion greens, green peppers, shredded carrots, squash, zucchini, cooked sweet potato, green beans, strawberries, peaches, pineapple, blue berries, raspberries, tomato, mushrooms and of course Mazuri

You can buy Mazuri online thru them. A small bag will run you about $14 bucks delivered to your door, and it is quick about 24 hour delivery. The small bag lasts me about two-three months when he was smaller.

I feed mine about 12 pellets soaked in water for a few minutes until they get soft. 2-3 times a week with a small about of greens and vege and a small amount of greens in the evening. Depending on your size and age you may want to try 4-6 pellets for each tort.

On the days he doesn't get Mazuri, I feed the vege and greens in the morning and greens in the late afternoon. He gets fruit in the evening every other day.

I also use a calcium powder that gets sprinkled on his Mazuri. This is important. I also have a cuttle bone, like a bird uses. They love to eat them and it is a good source of calcium.

He always has a water dish big enough for him to soak in...that gets changed at least twice a day ... More if it gets dirty. I wash it every time I change it and rinse well. If I would not drink out of it, my tort shouldn't either. He also gets soaked 3-4 days a week..mainly so I can check him out and make sure he is ok ... He also enjoys it! fill water just past the skirt on the bottom of his shell. Water should be warm, but not hot!

Make sure you are scooping poo and old food out of his enclosure ASAP, if not you will get bugs, those annoying fruit flies!

As far as substrate I use Eco Earth. It is also nice to have plants inside his enclosure for them to hide under ... Spider plants are easy,just make sure you transplant them. What I do is take it our of the pot it came in and wash it in hot soap water I then shake loose all the dirt and plant in new soil that is fertilizer and pesticide free in the clean pot they came in. I then dig a hole in the substrate and plant the pot. Don't forget to water ! My tort likes to eat the spider plant... It is safe for them to do that.

Make sure you have a UVB or MVB they will need to be changed BEFORE they burn out ..6 months or so...MVB tend to last longer and are more expensive, but it is what I prefer.

They need humidity .. Lots of it! I mist his enclosure several times a day .. I also add water to the substrate and mix it up several times a week ... You don't want it wet, but damp.. You will notice it drys out quick.

Temps should range from 70's at night to 80-85 and a hot spot of 90 that way they can warm up or cool down as needed ... I keep water dish by the hot spot so it stays warm.

They are a lot of work .. More than a dog or cat ... Welcome to the world of Redfoots!

This is information that I got from some wonderful people of this forum, I am not an expert! This is the way I keep my Redfoot I have had him three years. I got him at a pet store and he was unhealthy and sick with pyramiding, with the help from some great people on here, he is healthy and thriving! Take this for what it is ... Advice! These are not hard and fast rules, this is what works for me.

Dawndy

Well said!

 

[ascott]

I think Mazuri would be a better alternative to the times you want to offer a dog/cat kibble>.....

 

[N2TORTS]

Ahhh heck …I take the whole herd out for Filet Mignon
and Lobster , with a little smooth jazz once a month!