I have red footed tortoises two off them and this morning I noticed the house smelt like smoke and went into the room with the tortoises and the heat lamp fell onto there plastic housing and was smoking there was no fire but there was smoke and the tortoises were boiling hot we have fed them and sprayed them with cool water but I’m not sure if anything else can help or will they be okay they might off inhaled a fair bit off smoke
Smoke inhalation
- Thread starter Kershaw31
- Start date
I'll bet you were depending upon the clamp fixture on your lamp. They are bad at failing and we usually tell folks not to use the clamp, but hang the fixture with wire or something. I'm sorry this happened to you. Give them good soaks daily for about a week or so, soaks for about a half hour-45 minutes long, in something they can't climb out of.
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Oh goodness I’m sorry this happened! Were you using one of those clamp lamps? Those clamps have failed on other people, do you have a photo of your enclosure? Do you tortoises live as a pair in the same set up?
I’d definitely keep a very close eye on them! Do they appear to be breathing normally? Are they alert? If you could try answering any of these questions too it’ll be a great help in giving you housing pointers! Hopefully we can stop this happening again and help wherever else needed
What are your temperatures like all over? Ie all over day temps, night temps?
What kind of heating bulb is being used specifically? Packaging photos are good if you have any
Is there indoor uv? If so what kind?
How’s humidity? Is it a closed set up?
What kind of monitoring do you have?
What is the substrate?
What kind of things are you offering diet wise?
A photo of the full things would be wonderful! Along with one of your tortoises
I’d definitely keep a very close eye on them! Do they appear to be breathing normally? Are they alert? If you could try answering any of these questions too it’ll be a great help in giving you housing pointers! Hopefully we can stop this happening again and help wherever else needed
What are your temperatures like all over? Ie all over day temps, night temps?
What kind of heating bulb is being used specifically? Packaging photos are good if you have any
Is there indoor uv? If so what kind?
How’s humidity? Is it a closed set up?
What kind of monitoring do you have?
What is the substrate?
What kind of things are you offering diet wise?
A photo of the full things would be wonderful! Along with one of your tortoises
Will do thank you
I’m not sure about all of those things to be honest but they seem fine they are acting like that did beforeOh goodness I’m sorry this happened! Were you using one of those clamp lamps? Those clamps have failed on other people, do you have a photo of your enclosure? Do you tortoises live as a pair in the same set up?
I’d definitely keep a very close eye on them! Do they appear to be breathing normally? Are they alert? If you could try answering any of these questions too it’ll be a great help in giving you housing pointers! Hopefully we can stop this happening again and help wherever else needed
What are your temperatures like all over? Ie all over day temps, night temps?
What kind of heating bulb is being used specifically? Packaging photos are good if you have any
Is there indoor uv? If so what kind?
How’s humidity? Is it a closed set up?
What kind of monitoring do you have?
What is the substrate?
What kind of things are you offering diet wise?
A photo of the full things would be wonderful! Along with one of your tortoises
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Ok no worries, I will say it’s quite important to know your heat and humidity levels in the enclosures, hardware stores sell digital monitors that measure both the temperature and humidity pretty cheap.
I’m glad they’re acting ok! Are they housed together? Could we get a photo of them and the enclosure(s)?
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
I can see you’re from the uk correct? Me too! With a family red foot! I’ll say off the bat care information for red foot’s over here is absolutely dire! I’m not saying it to scare you off, but chances are you’ve been told a lot of bad information from the store/breeder you got them from
are they babies?
So many, too many, people sell them off as pairs, it’s under the assumption that because red foots are technically the most tolerant of company in terms of species, pair dynamics still simply do not work, they are constantly competing with one another, they’re incredibly territorial, behaviours that look cute to us really aren’t, following one another and sleeping huddled up is all bullying the the tortoise world, you’ll eventually see more extreme signs of aggression. Anyone who tells you pairs are fine, have no idea what they’re talking about.
Small groups are ok when there’s lots of land and the correct male to female ratio.
These two need separating if they’re together, into their own appropriately heated humid closed chambers. They need very high humidity! This has to be maintained properly though because they’re prone to shell rot, I can definitely help advise on that!
You may have also been told they’ll be fine in far too small a set up as adults, absolutely incorrect and not many have the means to house this large species on the scale they need in our uk climate, this is because both their temperature and humidity needs are quite high for life, it can be difficult to replicate their environment with the size needed, but not impossible! Hopefully these guys are still young so you have time to plan, we all can help!
Obviously first and foremost would be checking their current housing so we can give pointers on tweaks that need making, just want to be make sure they can live a long thriving life with you, this is a judgement free zone
are they babies?So many, too many, people sell them off as pairs, it’s under the assumption that because red foots are technically the most tolerant of company in terms of species, pair dynamics still simply do not work, they are constantly competing with one another, they’re incredibly territorial, behaviours that look cute to us really aren’t, following one another and sleeping huddled up is all bullying the the tortoise world, you’ll eventually see more extreme signs of aggression. Anyone who tells you pairs are fine, have no idea what they’re talking about.
Small groups are ok when there’s lots of land and the correct male to female ratio.
These two need separating if they’re together, into their own appropriately heated humid closed chambers. They need very high humidity! This has to be maintained properly though because they’re prone to shell rot, I can definitely help advise on that!
You may have also been told they’ll be fine in far too small a set up as adults, absolutely incorrect and not many have the means to house this large species on the scale they need in our uk climate, this is because both their temperature and humidity needs are quite high for life, it can be difficult to replicate their environment with the size needed, but not impossible! Hopefully these guys are still young so you have time to plan, we all can help!
Obviously first and foremost would be checking their current housing so we can give pointers on tweaks that need making, just want to be make sure they can live a long thriving life with you, this is a judgement free zone
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Sorry if it feels like I’ve bombarded you a bit
you can always feel free to just stick around and keep us posted on how they’re doing, perhaps you can have a look into the care sheets yourself if you don’t feel like sharing stuff
you can always feel free to just stick around and keep us posted on how they’re doing, perhaps you can have a look into the care sheets yourself if you don’t feel like sharing stuff
There is no way for us to know how much smoke, what type of smoke, or what damage it may have done. Only time will tell.
What we can help with is optimizing your housing and care routine. Most of the care info given out in the world is all wrong, and we try to help people get the right info.
I have a wooden tortoise shed that has caught fire and caused a lot of smoke in the past...I "think" that in the case of smoke, the torts 'might' breathe more shallow, and move away from the smoke...instinct would take over...even with the smoke and fire dept, the tortoises seem to move away from the smoke...I would follow Yvonne's advice as her's is about the best advice on TFO...
I’m not able to get any pictures sorry but yeah there together and just got them a new enclosureOk no worries, I will say it’s quite important to know your heat and humidity levels in the enclosures, hardware stores sell digital monitors that measure both the temperature and humidity pretty cheap.
I’m glad they’re acting ok! Are they housed together? Could we get a photo of them and the enclosure(s)?
Thank you we have to keep them together because we have no room for them sorry and I am from the UK! But he have got them a new nice home what is biggerI can see you’re from the uk correct? Me too! With a family red foot! I’ll say off the bat care information for red foot’s over here is absolutely dire! I’m not saying it to scare you off, but chances are you’ve been told a lot of bad information from the store/breeder you got them from
So many, too many, people sell them off as pairs, it’s under the assumption that because red foots are technically the most tolerant of company in terms of species, pair dynamics still simply do not work, they are constantly competing with one another, they’re incredibly territorial, behaviours that look cute to us really aren’t, following one another and sleeping huddled up is all bullying the the tortoise world, you’ll eventually see more extreme signs of aggression. Anyone who tells you pairs are fine, have no idea what they’re talking about.
Small groups are ok when there’s lots of land and the correct male to female ratio.
These two need separating if they’re together, into their own appropriately heated humid closed chambers. They need very high humidity! This has to be maintained properly though because they’re prone to shell rot, I can definitely help advise on that!
You may have also been told they’ll be fine in far too small a set up as adults, absolutely incorrect and not many have the means to house this large species on the scale they need in our uk climate, this is because both their temperature and humidity needs are quite high for life, it can be difficult to replicate their environment with the size needed, but not impossible! Hopefully these guys are still young so you have time to plan, we all can help!
Obviously first and foremost would be checking their current housing so we can give pointers on tweaks that need making, just want to be make sure they can live a long thriving life with you, this is a judgement free zone
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Keeping them together is going to cause one of them issues eventually, the stress can actually stunt the others growth, it is cruel keeping them together as a pair, they really do need separating for the good of their long term health, pair dynamics have killed tortoises, it’s not a matter of choice unfortunately, it’s a matter of how to kindly house an animal, there’s lot of animal species that can’t be kept as pairs, tortoises are one of them.
If you were using a clamp lamp? I’m guessing you have an open top table, that isn’t appropriate for red foots whatsoever and chances are it’s still too small for one let alone two, advise for sizing is always far too small, if you don’t have room for them both whilst they’re younger, you’ll struggle housing even one adult unfortunately, all too common in the uk
Please do try to take the advise on board, they’re going to suffer otherwise, at the very least please do give these threads a read, they’re full of such important information, all up to date!
This housing thread covers correct equipment(uvb, heating bulbs, lighting etc), correct levels, importance of a closed chamber for younger tortoises and red foots(only way to maintain the humidity you need), appropriately maintaining the humidity(they’re prone to shell rot so this is important), safe substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, a diet list and a really handy diet link to check out! If going with a greenhouse, the lower the ceiling height, whilst still allowing for recommended bulb height, the better!
Young red foot/ cherryhead set up
Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information on an effective example of a starter enclosure for a red foot/cherry head😊 Care advice for these guys is painfully behind, fb pages, YouTube, pet stores, they’re all repeating the same outdated advice, this forum is made of...
tortoiseforum.org
This includes different closed chamber options, some run more efficiently than others, perhaps some of the topper options in there could work with your current one!
Visual inspiration
Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...
tortoiseforum.org
Lastly, this one is probably most important so do definitely go over this one if no others! it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying
Common keeping errors
Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...
tortoiseforum.org
I know all this will be a lot to take in! Please try not to let it overwhelm you! I completely understand everyone’s circumstances are different, but changes do need to be made it terms of getting them set up separately, even if it means smaller than ideal for now, we can help all the way one step at a time!
Please do give those links a look over, always happy answering further questions! All this is to ensure you have a positive keeping experience here
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
I have a bunch of uk links for everything you need!
I hope your tortoises will be ok as far as the smoke incident went, but I am sorry to have to agree with everyone here who knows, and have warned you, that tortoises do not do well living in pairs. All of us here know that, for many reasons it's not healthy or comfortable or safe for either one!
Thank you for thisKeeping them together is going to cause one of them issues eventually, the stress can actually stunt the others growth, it is cruel keeping them together as a pair, they really do need separating for the good of their long term health, pair dynamics have killed tortoises, it’s not a matter of choice unfortunately, it’s a matter of how to kindly house an animal, there’s lot of animal species that can’t be kept as pairs, tortoises are one of them.
If you were using a clamp lamp? I’m guessing you have an open top table, that isn’t appropriate for red foots whatsoever and chances are it’s still too small for one let alone two, advise for sizing is always far too small, if you don’t have room for them both whilst they’re younger, you’ll struggle housing even one adult unfortunately, all too common in the uk
Please do try to take the advise on board, they’re going to suffer otherwise, at the very least please do give these threads a read, they’re full of such important information, all up to date!
This housing thread covers correct equipment(uvb, heating bulbs, lighting etc), correct levels, importance of a closed chamber for younger tortoises and red foots(only way to maintain the humidity you need), appropriately maintaining the humidity(they’re prone to shell rot so this is important), safe substrates, there’s lots of visual examples for everything, a diet list and a really handy diet link to check out! If going with a greenhouse, the lower the ceiling height, whilst still allowing for recommended bulb height, the better!
Young red foot/ cherryhead set up
Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information on an effective example of a starter enclosure for a red foot/cherry head😊 Care advice for these guys is painfully behind, fb pages, YouTube, pet stores, they’re all repeating the same outdated advice, this forum is made of...
This includes different closed chamber options, some run more efficiently than others, perhaps some of the topper options in there could work with your current one!
Visual inspiration
Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...
Lastly, this one is probably most important so do definitely go over this one if no others! it’ll help you avoid the wrong bulbs, substrates, housing etc, I always encourage double checking purchases on the forum too before buying
Common keeping errors
Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...
I know all this will be a lot to take in! Please try not to let it overwhelm you! I completely understand everyone’s circumstances are different, but changes do need to be made it terms of getting them set up separately, even if it means smaller than ideal for now, we can help all the way one step at a time!
Please do give those links a look over, always happy answering further questions! All this is to ensure you have a positive keeping experience here
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
No problem at all! If need help on absolutely anything just give us a shout! We’ll always be here happy to advise, I know it’s all a lot to go over and take in, especially through the holidays, so take all the time you need
