UV lamp - necessary with time outside?

[Jaclynn0713]

I am trying to get everything together so that we can bring home a redfoot tortoise at some point within the next month. I have a glass terrarium that is 36L x 18W x 16H. We live in Florida and we have a small patio that we plan to let our tort explore during the day when either myself or my spouse is home. Likely at least 3 days a week for around 15 minutes to an hour (depends on how long my daughter wants to be out). Is this adequate to skip out on the UV lamp? Should I get one just in case? I did some reading and I think this would be enough based on other experienced owners responses, but I just want to make sure.

 

[Tom]

The outside time you've listed should be good enough for UV, but unless you are only getting a hatchling, that tank is way too small. It would also be good to make an enclosure for the outdoor patio area.

Check this out:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I agree.
Make a patio enclosure and leave him outdoors for extended periods but not in 100% bright sunlight.

 

[Jaclynn0713]

I think we will be buying a hatchling (I found one local breeder and there's a reptile store with a RF that's a few months old. Is that size adequate for at least a year for one that's young? We can return the cage if it won't work, but I read online somewhere that it would be adequate for young ones.

 

[Tom]

I think we will be buying a hatchling (I found one local breeder and there's a reptile store with a RF that's a few months old. Is that size adequate for at least a year for one that's young? We can return the cage if it won't work, but I read online somewhere that it would be adequate for young ones.

A 40 is okay to start a small hatchling, but they will outgrow something that small in a few months. If its already a few months old, I'd get something bigger.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

This would be my suggestion,
fellow Floridian.
Buy or make an indoor and an outdoor enclosure and buy a Redfoot tortoise that is already 6 or more inches.
You'll have fewer health problems and worry about predation.
A simple outdoor habitat could be just some cement blocks, soil, bark, a water pan and a small trash can partially buried laying on its side for shelter. Maybe a few potted plants.
Not that there is anything wrong with keeping a tortoise in doors. It's just that here, a Redfoot is ideal for our climate like 250 days out of the year.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

And Craigslist...or another member here would be a great place to find one

 

[Jaclynn0713]

A 40 is okay to start a small hatchling, but they will outgrow something that small in a few months. If its already a few months old, I'd get something bigger.

Wow, really? I was following a guideline I read on this site (I'll have to try and find it) that a general rule is 8 shell lengths by 4 shell lengths. Assuming a 2 in starting size, and 2 inches growth in one year, that should give me at least one year, maybe two? I could keep them in that until around 4.5" SCL by that recommendation. We really only plan on having the tort indoors for 1-2 years. We are in an apartment and after speaking to our complex management, we can't have the cage/enclosure stuff outside on our patio. So we are stuck with something indoors at least until our lease in up in Dec.

Zero, I appreciate your recommendation, but we would really like to try raising a baby tortoise. We have already found an exotic vet in the area in case problems arise. I spoke to one tort breeder who we are considering purchasing from about the difficulty of raising a tort from a young age and they assured me that, although they can be shy at first, they haven't found baby RF or CHRF to be hard to care for.

 

[Tom]

Everybody you ask will tell you something different. Tortoises need a lot of room to move. Once you cram all the furniture, plants, water and food dishes, hides, etc. into a 40, there is very little walking room left. Its not that your tortoise will drop dead in too small of a tank, its that they need more room than that. You could survive if locked in a bathroom, but your health, well being and mental state would be significantly better if you had the whole house to roam. I'm recommending you give your tortoise more room to roam.

 

[Jaclynn0713]

I completely understand what you're saying. I guess I just assumed I'd get at least a year out of it. I bought it 50% off so I shouldn't have a problem selling it used for at least what I invested in it. Hopefully by then we will have a yard to work with. At what SCL should I move him/her out of the tank and into something larger? I don't mind doing it sooner than I expected, I mostly just want to know it will be okay to keep the baby tort in here at least until our lease is up in Dec.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Are you near Broward County?
Broward Avian and Exotic, Dr. Keleher, is great with tortoises.
As for locating a baby RF, Beverly Pets in Hollywood has a staffer with his own torts. Or there are many breeders.
A baby can indeed live indoors.
Check out a "closed chamber" type set up.
It will keep in warmth and humidity and will be much easier to maintain.