Red Foot Only Eating Grass

[Isabel Casiño]

I give my RF a mix of mostly fruits and greens everyday (Romaine, mango, strawberries, prickly pads, etc) with a little vitamin A sprinkled on top of it, even though I give him a reasonable amount he ignores the food and only wants to eat grass.
Help me out please, have your RF’s ever don’t this? I’m scared of some sickness from poor dietary...

 

[ZEROPILOT]

That is actually very unusual.
Can you post photos of the tortoise, the enclosure, etc?
Maybe one of us can make a helpful guess.

 

[Isabel Casiño]

That is actually very unusual.
Can you post photos of the tortoise, the enclosure, etc?
Maybe one of us can make a helpful guess.

Really? I didn’t know that ? His enclosure is mostly hiding spaces where he can sleep since he’s still a baby and sleeps all day, he’s in his hide with a heating mat since he was just outside (eating grass instead of walking around ?) and it got a bit windy, thank you so much!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I'd remove those plastic plants.
A Redfoot might eat some of that plastic.
When he eats grass. Is it a lot of grass? Are you sure that that grass hasn't been sprayed with anything harmful?
I've kept Redfoot for the better part of 30 years. And mine eat almost no grass. But there are a few weeds, like Purslane that they look for and eat. Fruit is almost irresistible to them normally.
Could it be that the temperature outside is more comfortable for him than it is inside?
What is the enclosure temperature and how much humidity?
A temperature between 80 and 86 and humidity of over 70% is required. Also shade because bright lighting make them uncomfortable.
We have to figure out why he just eats grass from outside.

 

[Canadian Mojo]

What kind of grass? Mine won't touch lawn grass but will munch on the young shoots of annual grasses like crabgrass. It's not very high on his list of things to eat though.

 

[Isabel Casiño]

What kind of grass? Mine won't touch lawn grass but will munch on the young shoots of annual grasses like crabgrass. It's not very high on his list of things to eat though.

I am not sure of what type of grass it is but it looks like lawn grass, the gardeners at my residence put fertilizer pellets in them and replace the grass every few months with a new grass carpet thing. I’m not sure why he likes it...

 

[Isabel Casiño]

I'd remove those plastic plants.
A Redfoot might eat some of that plastic.
When he eats grass. Is it a lot of grass? Are you sure that that grass hasn't been sprayed with anything harmful?
I've kept Redfoot for the better part of 30 years. And mine eat almost no grass. But there are a few weeds, like Purslane that they look for and eat. Fruit is almost irresistible to them normally.
Could it be that the temperature outside is more comfortable for him than it is inside?
What is the enclosure temperature and how much humidity?
A temperature between 80 and 86 and humidity of over 70% is required. Also shade because bright lighting make them uncomfortable.
We have to figure out why he just eats grass from outside.

I just removed my plastic plant in his enclosure. I know that the plants and grass outside are sprayed with a pesticide every few months and has fertilizer balls in it, I just found out this information by the gardeners outside my residence and it is making me worried sick of my torts health, and yes, he does eat a lot of grass when he’s outside. The whole hour when he’s outside in the sun he’s just eating grass.. My night bulb that keeps the temperature at night just burned out and will not turn back on.. His enclosure is at 70 now and I’m not sure if I should buy the same light again because I read that the colored light hurt tortoises eyes... Temperature is normally at 75 even with my ceramic heater on... Humidity is at 80%. Should I buy a basking lamp? In the day I am only using a UV (Zoo Med Repti Sun) and a ceramic heat emitter, although it doesn’t give off much heat, he doesn’t bother staying on the heat mat for too long. I have noticed that he wakes up for a few minutes, doesn’t move and just goes back to sleep in the same spot.
If I should buy a basking lamp which one do you recommend? I am currently looking at a mercury vapor bulb (100 watt).
I live in Mexico City and it’s a bit cold out, I am going to take my tort to the vet as soon as I find a proper reptile veterinarian, the last one gave me poor information that could kill my little guy...
Thank you for the help! I really hope I can get him better soon.. I don’t want him to be stressed..

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Since your Redfoot spends time outside and gets real sunlight. The only bulb you need is for heat and you can use any standard light bulb for that. (Not LED.)
You don't need anything special.
However, I would not let the tortoise eat any more of that treated grass.

 

[Isabel Casiño]

Since your Redfoot spends time outside and gets real sunlight. The only bulb you need is for heat and you can use any standard light bulb for that. (Not LED.)
You don't need anything special.
However, I would not let the tortoise eat any more of that treated grass.

Thank you for the help! Temperature is currently at 82 and stays at 82, might be hotter where the heat mat is, but update!! He’s not eating grass anymore but only when I don’t put vitamins in his food! I took a closer look and it looks a bit more like crab grass instead of normal lawn grass. I’m just glad he stopped eating the grass ?