Redfoot Rescue

[jjsull33]

I have been looking to get a new breed of tort and have been trying to decide between an EBT and a RF, but wasn't actually looking to get a new tort until this fall/next spring.
So yesterday I was on craigslist looking for torts as I often do, and I found both an EBT and an RF in need of a new home, so I emailed both posters and as it wold turn out the RF was in bad condition and the owner said he would give it to me for free since I seem to know what I am doing with torts. I guess fate decided which type I will be getting first lol.

The poor tort is being kept in a 20 gallon fish tank with no hides and is incredibly pyramided, I am not as ready as I wanted to be for this tort but I could not leave him living like that and since they owner said he would give me the tort free I am getting him tomorrow.

I have a couple questions as I am setting up his temporary enclosure tonight, I have some sphagnum moss from almost 2 years ago, can I use that? It has been kept dry and in a dark area the whole time.

I have russian torts already, can the redfoot eat kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandilion, collard greens, spring mix and lettuce? I don't see why they wouldn't be able to in fact it seems like that is what I should be feeding him but I want to make sure those greens are ok for him as well since they are already in the house.

I am not sure how big he is, but judging by the picture I saw and knowing his tank is 20 gallons I would say he is around 6-8 inches long (I haven't gotten a response back as to how long he actually is this is just a guess) Would a 50 gallon tote be big enough for a temporary enclosure? I was planning on cutting the end off of 2 of the totes and connecting them so I would have a "100 gallon long" tote. Think something that size would last him for the summer?

I have a 6ftx4ft closed chamber table that my russians are currently using, this summer they will be living outside and I was going to use that time to fix up the table for one of them but instead I will now be fixing it up for the redfoot, it just won't be ready till closer to september (budgetary constraints).

 

[theelectraco]

I think the connected totes will work fine for it. That is MUCH better then what he had. Those veggies are fine, and incorporate some fruit and protein.

 

[jjsull33]

I am going to steal one of the Power Sun bulbs from my russians for now, since they go outside all the time and will be living out there full time by the end of the month. Other than that it seems all I need to buy for this tortoise is a CHE or two, a few hides, a water saucer, and a second 50 gallon tote. I can't wait to see him in a better situation.

Are there any fruits that I should avoid with him? I was thinking 2x a week or so adding in a banana, strawberries or mango, and 1x a week adding in some sort of protein, probably crickets or worms as I can get them from the yard.

 

[theelectraco]

I would limit the amount of Banana to once or twice a month. I do strawberries once a week also and squash, mango, cactus, berries, apricot. For veggies I do spring mix and collards. My tortoise loves collards way too much so I limit them. I also chop up grass and weeds from outside and mix them into his food. He devours dandelions no matter what but grass and weeds he doesn't graze on much outside, but when its in his food bowl he eats it readily. I also do the zoo med forest blocks and mazuri.

 

[jjsull33]

awesome, thanks. What is a minimum temperature for outdoor visits? I know russians are a bit more hardy and can take it if its 65, will a redfoot be comfortable with that too?

 

[theelectraco]

I do 70 if its sunny or 75 if its shady or breezy. When its windy he doesn't go out tho.

 

[FLINTUS]

a red of that size will be fine out in 60/65

 

[jjsull33]

I am picking him up tonight and wont be able to get home until around 10 pm, should I just put him into his enclosure and leave him alone for the night, and give him a bath tomorrow? (I wont be able to do so until after work tomorrow so 8pm or so....) or should I bathe him tonight when we get home?

I built the tank last night, I combine 2 50 gallon tanks one of which I left a lid on with a CHE pointing in (ill put pictures tonight once I get him) so he basically has a 50 gallon humid hide and a 50 gallon area with an MVB, water dish and food slate.

 

[FLINTUS]

Yes bathe him when he gets back