Redfoot

[Tonks_the_Tornado]

Hi all,
I’ve been wanting to post for a while. New-ish tortoise owner, got her from Petsmart in September. I’ve been reading this forum since I got her, trying to take the best care of her and give her everything she needs for a healthy upbringing! She is a a redfoot, not sure how old, about 6.5 inches in diameter.
I’ve been been home from work for a couple of weeks with an injury, which has granted me the opportunity to observe her with regularity. It seems like she’s not very active. She comes out of her dark space and eats then goes back in and chills for an hour at a time before coming back out again. My husband disagrees and thinks her level of activity is normal for a tort. I guess I am not really sure what normal looks like as far as amount of activity for a redfoot.
Also she is uninterested in her greens lately, and even more recently has been leaving behind her mushrooms and strawberries, which both seemed to be her favorites. She HAS been eating her pellets, pretty much exclusively. The pellets are Repcal tortoise pellets. I think she is just more into these than her fresh veggies and fruits. Based on advice from another post I read, I took the pellets out of her enclosure today, so hopefully that will make her hungry enough to eat her veggies/fruits.
In addition, she has had a whistle when she breathes, which has been present for months. Ive read that this is a potential sign of a RI, but really no other symptoms that I’m awareness of and it’s been going on for a while already.
She has really seemed like nothing but a happy tort, but I’m in a constant state of worry with her, I think mostly because Im not sure what things are supposed to be. Maybe I’m just overthinking things because I’m home and observing her so much more.
As a side note, we live in Northern Vermont, where I don’t think there’re any local reptile vets. (Anyone in Vermont aware of a vet within a few hours?). It’s challenging to create the proper temp/environment for her in a cold climate but I think we’ve done a decent job of it.
Sorry for the long post and such.. I guess I’m still not really sure what normal looks like and I’m just looking for some advice/encouragement that she’s fine and all is well!!
I will post pics of her & her enclosure.

 

[Tonks_the_Tornado]

Pics of enclosure

 

[Tonks_the_Tornado]

Oh, I did forget to mention too that she does have watery eyes..

 

[ZEROPILOT]

What is the ambient temperature?
What is the humidity?
What are your lights and heat?
Small Redfoot do sleep a lot.
I'd back off on the pellets. They're probably more of a treat than a staple food.

 

[Tonks_the_Tornado]

What is the ambient temperature?
What is the humidity?
What are your lights and heat?
Small Redfoot do sleep a lot.
I'd back off on the pellets. They're probably more of a treat than a staple food.

Temperature in her dark space is usually 78-85 with humidity 85-90%. The heat lamp is a 100 watt ceramic bulb.
The light is a UVB, the temp outside of the dark space where the light is is less warm, in the high 60s to high 70s. She hangs out a lot in her cave with her head out of her shell; it looks like she’s realt comfortable

What is the ambient temperature?
What is the humidity?
What are your lights and heat?
Small Redfoot do sleep a lot.
I'd back off on the pellets. They're probably more of a treat than a staple food.

The temperature in her dark space is usually 78-85 degrees with humidity 85-90%. The heat lamp for her cave is a 100-watt ceramic bulb.
The light is a UVB. Ambient temp outside her cave is high 60s to high 70s. We don’t have a heat lamp there so it depends on the temp in the house but her enclosure is next to our wood stove so it’s probably the warmest spot in the house.
She spends majority of her time in her cave though, most of the time with her head outside of her shell, which I believe means she is comfortable?
I did take the pellets out this morning and will keep them out for a few days to make sure she eats some real food…

 

[COmtnLady]

That enclosure is prettier than any place I've ever lived. (Wish I had one so nice.) Does it have a top to keep the humidity in over the main part?

Do you soak her?

If you are worried about her being ill, I'd go slowly about removing things she will eat. On some levels its better to get something healthy into her than nothing, but it might be ok to have more of what you want her to eat and a little less of what she's choosing over what you want her to have. I trust my Redfoot to know what vitamins or whatever she needs.
(Also, is the produce from grocery stores or are you growing your own? It might be that this particular batch smells like refrigerators, or even got something sprayed/splashed on it that humans don't smell.)
My girl goes through phases, sometimes she'll eat red leaf lettuce and lacinato kale like there is no tomorrow, then randomly won't touch them. (She never likes the ruffle-y kind of kale.) I switch things out to other greens, she eats them like no tomorrow, then doesn't. I guess she's got me trained pretty well because I just change her food again. She almost always loves a circle of banana or chunk of yellow mango... almost always (until she gets bored with them in a day or two). Radicchio, all sorts of other greenery, mushrooms, very occasionally a romaine leaf or two. She likes a raspberry now and then and loves blueberries - until she doesn't. Ditto any of several other kinds of greens, weeds and flowers from the yard in the summertime, but I let her pick her own when she's roaming outside. And a whole corner of my kitchen now has a three-drawer "desktop" thing with meal worms working their way through their life cycle so that she can have them when she wants them, too. They also come and go from her favourite to won't eat items.

The other thing, its winter (ok, we just passed the Spring Equinox, but...) The light of the days is shorter even if we have household lighting all over the place. She might just be a bit less energetic because of that.

 

[Avuwyy]

Hi all,
I’ve been wanting to post for a while. New-ish tortoise owner, got her from Petsmart in September. I’ve been reading this forum since I got her, trying to take the best care of her and give her everything she needs for a healthy upbringing! She is a a redfoot, not sure how old, about 6.5 inches in diameter.
I’ve been been home from work for a couple of weeks with an injury, which has granted me the opportunity to observe her with regularity. It seems like she’s not very active. She comes out of her dark space and eats then goes back in and chills for an hour at a time before coming back out again. My husband disagrees and thinks her level of activity is normal for a tort. I guess I am not really sure what normal looks like as far as amount of activity for a redfoot.
Also she is uninterested in her greens lately, and even more recently has been leaving behind her mushrooms and strawberries, which both seemed to be her favorites. She HAS been eating her pellets, pretty much exclusively. The pellets are Repcal tortoise pellets. I think she is just more into these than her fresh veggies and fruits. Based on advice from another post I read, I took the pellets out of her enclosure today, so hopefully that will make her hungry enough to eat her veggies/fruits.
In addition, she has had a whistle when she breathes, which has been present for months. Ive read that this is a potential sign of a RI, but really no other symptoms that I’m awareness of and it’s been going on for a while already.
She has really seemed like nothing but a happy tort, but I’m in a constant state of worry with her, I think mostly because Im not sure what things are supposed to be. Maybe I’m just overthinking things because I’m home and observing her so much more.
As a side note, we live in Northern Vermont, where I don’t think there’re any local reptile vets. (Anyone in Vermont aware of a vet within a few hours?). It’s challenging to create the proper temp/environment for her in a cold climate but I think we’ve done a decent job of it.
Sorry for the long post and such.. I guess I’m still not really sure what normal looks like and I’m just looking for some advice/encouragement that she’s fine and all is well!!
I will post pics of her & her enclosure.

Have you had her checked by a vet at all whilst in your care? I know you said that there are no local reptile vets, but normal vets can check for heavy parasite loads and prescribe medicine to fight this. If you haven’t seen a vet yet, it would be good to go just to see whether your tortoise is burdened by parasites. This includes taking a fresh sample of your tortoise’s stool to the vet for them to examine.

Oh, I did forget to mention too that she does have watery eyes..

Are you able to take a picture of your tortoise’s eyes? Are they bright and alert? Are they puffy, or sunken in? Are there any accompanying symptoms, such as: a wet or bubbling nose, wheezing and gasping for air, and a gaping mouth?

Sorry about all the questions! Your tortoise is beautiful by the way

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Have you had her checked by a vet at all whilst in your care? I know you said that there are no local reptile vets, but normal vets can check for heavy parasite loads and prescribe medicine to fight this. If you haven’t seen a vet yet, it would be good to go just to see whether your tortoise is burdened by parasites. This includes taking a fresh sample of your tortoise’s stool to the vet for them to examine.



Are you able to take a picture of your tortoise’s eyes? Are they bright and alert? Are they puffy, or sunken in? Are there any accompanying symptoms, such as: a wet or bubbling nose, wheezing and gasping for air, and a gaping mouth?

Sorry about all the questions! Your tortoise is beautiful by the way

I would not take any tortoise to a vet that isn't a specialist.
Too much guessing and reading of ancient databases. They will literally learn as they experiment on your beloved pet.
And that sad thing is that a lot of vets will never indicate just how inexperienced they are. Even after they've seriously harmed or killed your tortoise.
It should also be said that many (most?) Tortoises will have a few parasites at one time or another. That is not a reason to treat with poison to kill them. Because an otherwise healthy tortoise can live perfectly fine with them.
A heavy infestation can happen when a tortoise becomes ill. There will be signs. Lethargy. Runny. Smelly poops. Worms visible in the poop, etc.
That will require veterinarian intervention. But a less experienced vet will want to treat for ANY LEVEL of parasites. And give unnecessary injections, etc

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Temperature in her dark space is usually 78-85 with humidity 85-90%. The heat lamp is a 100 watt ceramic bulb.
The light is a UVB, the temp outside of the dark space where the light is is less warm, in the high 60s to high 70s. She hangs out a lot in her cave with her head out of her shell; it looks like she’s realt comfortable

The temperature in her dark space is usually 78-85 degrees with humidity 85-90%. The heat lamp for her cave is a 100-watt ceramic bulb.
The light is a UVB. Ambient temp outside her cave is high 60s to high 70s. We don’t have a heat lamp there so it depends on the temp in the house but her enclosure is next to our wood stove so it’s probably the warmest spot in the house.
She spends majority of her time in her cave though, most of the time with her head outside of her shell, which I believe means she is comfortable?
I did take the pellets out this morning and will keep them out for a few days to make sure she eats some real food…

It sounds like you've been doing your homework.
It all sounds pretty good.
You should however, try to bump up that overnight temperature to near 80 by keeping on a che on. CHE work great. Day or night.
Runny eyes usually mean dehydration or overheating.

 

[COmtnLady]

Side Issue concerning parasites - These guys have evolved with them, as have humans, and there is increasing evidence that having parasites is needed for healthy immune system. Bodies expect to have to fight them, when they don't the bodies don't establish the same assortments of antibodies and chemistry. There's a theory now that lack of certain intestinal parasites is what causes MS in humans.

 

[Avuwyy]

I would not take any tortoise to a vet that isn't a specialist.
Too much guessing and reading of ancient databases. They will literally learn as they experiment on your beloved pet.
And that sad thing is that a lot of vets will never indicate just how inexperienced they are. Even after they've seriously harmed or killed your tortoise.
It should also be said that many (most?) Tortoises will have a few parasites at one time or another. That is not a reason to treat with poison to kill them. Because an otherwise healthy tortoise can live perfectly fine with them.
A heavy infestation can happen when a tortoise becomes ill. There will be signs. Lethargy. Runny. Smelly poops. Worms visible in the poop, etc.
That will require veterinarian intervention. But a less experienced vet will want to treat for ANY LEVEL of parasites. And give unnecessary injections, etc

Ah, my mistake noting this in regards to parasites. I was under the assumption that vets at least knew about the difference between normal parasite loads in tortoises, and ones which are a burden to the animal. Thank you for informing me, I will take note of this for the future

 

[Tonks_the_Tornado]

That enclosure is prettier than any place I've ever lived. (Wish I had one so nice.) Does it have a top to keep the humidity in over the main part?

Do you soak her?

If you are worried about her being ill, I'd go slowly about removing things she will eat. On some levels its better to get something healthy into her than nothing, but it might be ok to have more of what you want her to eat and a little less of what she's choosing over what you want her to have. I trust my Redfoot to know what vitamins or whatever she needs.
(Also, is the produce from grocery stores or are you growing your own? It might be that this particular batch smells like refrigerators, or even got something sprayed/splashed on it that humans don't smell.)
My girl goes through phases, sometimes she'll eat red leaf lettuce and lacinato kale like there is no tomorrow, then randomly won't touch them. (She never likes the ruffle-y kind of kale.) I switch things out to other greens, she eats them like no tomorrow, then doesn't. I guess she's got me trained pretty well because I just change her food again. She almost always loves a circle of banana or chunk of yellow mango... almost always (until she gets bored with them in a day or two). Radicchio, all sorts of other greenery, mushrooms, very occasionally a romaine leaf or two. She likes a raspberry now and then and loves blueberries - until she doesn't. Ditto any of several other kinds of greens, weeds and flowers from the yard in the summertime, but I let her pick her own when she's roaming outside. And a whole corner of my kitchen now has a three-drawer "desktop" thing with meal worms working their way through their life cycle so that she can have them when she wants them, too. They also come and go from her favourite to won't eat items.

The other thing, its winter (ok, we just passed the Spring Equinox, but...) The light of the days is shorter even if we have household lighting all over the place. She might just be a bit less energetic because of that.

Haha thank you so much. We built it for her… custom-made only for our little tort!! Haha. Sometimes she pops her head out the window and it’s so cute to see her little face there looking out.

I do soak her, at least once a week but usually more like 2-3 times a week, 15-20 minutes in 90-95 degree water and I brush her with a toothbrush. She doesn’t poop in her home so this is really the main time that she’ll poop..

Thank you so much for the info on what you feed your tort and that it’s normal for them to go through phases. I think this has been the most difficult thing about having her; trying to figure out what/how/when to feed her. Do you feed your tort once a day or multiple times? I’ve been getting her a spring mix from the supermarket. Maybe I need to try some of those other types of greens you suggested. It’s winter so no possibility of letting her roam outside and find her own tasty things.
I feel like I read somewhere that bananas and blueberries are not good for torts, or maybe okay in small quantities? I don’t know a ton so I welcome your input here cause it’d make my life a bit easier to be able to feed her these. How often do you give your tort fruit? Every day?
Also, do you cook the mushrooms or give them to her/him raw? I usually cook them cause that’s what you’re supposed to do for humans but I was not sure and couldn’t find info on it anywhere…

Indeed it is winter! I can’t wait to get her outside when the time comes and hopefully she’ll be a bit more active!

Thanks for all of the information!

 

[Tonks_the_Tornado]

Have you had her checked by a vet at all whilst in your care? I know you said that there are no local reptile vets, but normal vets can check for heavy parasite loads and prescribe medicine to fight this. If you haven’t seen a vet yet, it would be good to go just to see whether your tortoise is burdened by parasites. This includes taking a fresh sample of your tortoise’s stool to the vet for them to examine.



Are you able to take a picture of your tortoise’s eyes? Are they bright and alert? Are they puffy, or sunken in? Are there any accompanying symptoms, such as: a wet or bubbling nose, wheezing and gasping for air, and a gaping mouth?

Sorry about all the questions! Your tortoise is beautiful by the way

Thank you so much!! I think she is a beauty too!
No worries, I appreciate you asking and the knowledge you’re willing to share.
I feel like they’re more sunken in than anything, but I don’t know if it’s just normal? I’ll post a pic. No gasping for air or wheezing that I’m aware of, although she sometimes seems to breathe with her whole neck and arms? I think that’s a good description..

 

[Tonks_the_Tornado]

It sounds like you've been doing your homework.
It all sounds pretty good.
You should however, try to bump up that overnight temperature to near 80 by keeping on a che on. CHE work great. Day or night.
Runny eyes usually mean dehydration or overheating.

I’ve been getting most of my information from this forum. Trying to do my homework! Thanks for saying that though, because truly I wasn’t sure that this is all right. 90% humidity? I’ve been questioning because it seems like it’s soaking wet in her cave all the time..
Hard to ensure temp is >80 with the fog machine going all night. What is a CHE?
Hmm, she has access to water and I soak her 1-3 days/week; maybe overheating? Hard to know…

 

[Tonks_the_Tornado]

I would not take any tortoise to a vet that isn't a specialist.
Too much guessing and reading of ancient databases. They will literally learn as they experiment on your beloved pet.
And that sad thing is that a lot of vets will never indicate just how inexperienced they are. Even after they've seriously harmed or killed your tortoise.
It should also be said that many (most?) Tortoises will have a few parasites at one time or another. That is not a reason to treat with poison to kill them. Because an otherwise healthy tortoise can live perfectly fine with them.
A heavy infestation can happen when a tortoise becomes ill. There will be signs. Lethargy. Runny. Smelly poops. Worms visible in the poop, etc.
That will require veterinarian intervention. But a less experienced vet will want to treat for ANY LEVEL of parasites. And give unnecessary injections, etc

Good to know, thank you!!!

 

[Diane Berner]

You can feed redfoot quite a bit of fruit along with greens, Mazuri ( tortoise pellets ) and protein ( like chicken breast, no skin, hardboiled eggs, pinkie mice, etc). I give my 7 year old protein about every 10 days or so. Mushrooms are uncooked. If she doesn't like one kind of mushroom or food try another. I agree they go on and off foods they like and suddenly dislike. I went through this with a long time favorite, a banana. Loved it and then wouldn't eat it. I've had mine since she was a hatching. She now is about the size of an oversized football and weighs about 15 pounds. Mine also makes noise when she breathes even though there is nothing wrong with her. I agree watery eyes are from being too dry or hot. Soaking helps.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I’ve been getting most of my information from this forum. Trying to do my homework! Thanks for saying that though, because truly I wasn’t sure that this is all right. 90% humidity? I’ve been questioning because it seems like it’s soaking wet in her cave all the time..
Hard to ensure temp is >80 with the fog machine going all night. What is a CHE?
Hmm, she has access to water and I soak her 1-3 days/week; maybe overheating? Hard to know…

A CHE is a Ceramic Heat Emitter. It gives off heat without light. Costs very little and lasts years and years.
You should probably invest $20-$30 in a non contact laser thermometer. One that you just point at a spot and get a good temperature reading.
Knowing your temperature is crucial because Redfoot don't do well if it's too cool or too hot.

 

[Tonks_the_Tornado]

A CHE is a Ceramic Heat Emitter. It gives off heat without light. Costs very little and lasts years and years.
You should probably invest $20-$30 in a non contact laser thermometer. One that you just point at a spot and get a good temperature reading.
Knowing your temperature is crucial because Redfoot don't do well if it's too cool or too hot.

Oh yes, I think that’s what we have. I’ll post pics… Is this what you’re talking about?

 

[COmtnLady]

There are so many different kinds of torts, just like there are a bazillion breeds of dogs, and each eats according to the environment that particular type evolved in. Redfoots don't seem to like grass the way some do, but there are other breeds that mainly eat grass. Fruit isn't very good for the others, but redfoots do well eating it like Diane Berner and ZeroPilot said above. Don't feed as much fruit as half of her whole meal, but yes, I give some fruits every time.

I'm vegetarian so don't have the bits of meat available to give her like Diane Berner suggested above, so I feed her meal worms about as often as ZeroPilot explained. (Except for the worms, she and I eat the same things, which makes it not as difficult to try a different kind of leafy foods and fruit for her. Well, meat and mangos - I really don't like mangos...but I get the yellow ones for her anyway.)

I try to pay attention to how much she ate of the amount she had last time. If she left a lot, I'll try that amount again next time. If she leaves a lot twice, I cut back the amount. If she's eating everything in sight, I'll do a larger quantity or give her a snack later on in the day. I also don't remove what's sitting there until the next time I feed her the next day because sometimes she just wants to eat it later on.

Don't cook any of her food. Can you imagine a wild critter coming upon a cooked mushroom in their daily travels of their forest or out on their hillside. Plus, unless you're only boiling things you are putting the mushrooms or whatever in oil or butter. Torts don't come across that in nature very much. Also, don't "season" anything - torts don't need extra salt & pepper. Those are human culinary things to do. Envision how the food item would be out in the wild.
(Yes, there's a whole philosophical argument that food from the grocery store isn't like food in the wild, but we'll leave that sit until another day.)

Try soaking her every day for a week or so and see if that doesn't help a lot of what you're concerned about. Maybe she just needs to poop more often, or get more hydration. Plus, it won't hurt her. I always start the soak at temped (comfortable on the inside of my wrist) and increase the temp a bit as she acclimates.

Redfoots are the best!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Oh yes, I think that’s what we have. I’ll post pics… Is this what you’re talking about?

Is that the same light in every photo?
One looks like a CHE (Which is fantastic) And one looks like an IR. Infra Red. Not suitable for a tortoise.