- Joined
- Dec 23, 2008
- Messages
- 36
I got a Red Foot "Tick Tock" from a the local Pet Land on September 22nd. He's supposedly around 2 years old.
We were told no water is needed in their enclosures as their diet provides plenty.
We were also told to use this substrate:
We were told to feed romaine lettuce, that tomatoes are fine, that varying the diet is the most important thing, and that the Frozen tortoise pellets are the best, oh and to sprinkle with this "tortoise dust" supplement.
Also, beneath the substrate is this liner:
NOW, HERE ARE MY CONCERNS:
I noticed watery eyes today. I've read from various sources this is due to dehydration and low humidity. I'm sure my room is quite dry so tomorrow we are going to get a humidifier for the room. Also, today I put a bigger dish of water for him to soak in for a bit. Any other ideas on how to improve his condition and get rid of watery eyes?
Also, A lot of what they told us (and what we've been doing since September) contradicts with the doctrine of www.redfoots.com and a lot of other sites I've been reading good things about on here.
Here is a pic of his current home so you can get an idea of what's being done right and wrong:
His current temperature on the heated side seems to be around 80-85 degrees during the day. At night it's a tad lower.
The yellow dish is where I put his food. Upon freaking out when I saw he was dehydrated I put the dish I mentioned earlier in so he could soak for a while, and when I took it out I put some water in the yellow dish for tonight. Also, when I was taking out the soaking dish I poured all the water into the substrate evenly to try to make it more humid.
I also have this tropical mist spray from the same company that made that terrarium liner. I've been trying to do that every other day. Perhaps it should be done more? Or maybe I should be using just water?
Perhaps to make it more humid I should cut the lid of the rubbermade container in half or poke holes in it or something? Here is the lid to give you ideas:
ALSO: I've read some places that cat food once a weak can kill red foots or hurt them a lot. I'm very worried about not getting him the right diet, but also about picking the wrong advice and hurting him. Please, could someone explain what's true and what isn't?
Also, here is a picture taken of him when i took the other pics today (the wetness is from water I poured over him after he was done soaking in it):
And here is a picture taken October 4th:
PLEASE GET TICK TOCK ON THE RIGHT PATH! I suppose I shouldn't have so readily trusted everything the pet store told me. I'll try to provide any extra information I can if needed. I'm EXTREMLY worried about him. If he started to show pyramiding or any more severe sickness I'd feel just absolutley awful. I really REALLY want to do everything right with my little buddy. I feel awful enough about the puffy/watery eyes.
PLEASE HELP! I need to know what info is good and why the contradictory info is bad, what I need to change for his home, etc. PLEASE!
THANKS SO MUCH IN ADVANCE TO ANYONE WITH GOOD ADVICE!
OH!
Also, on the left is his heat lamp I keep on 24/7.
On the right is his UV lamp I keep on during the day. I was told it should be on 12 hours a day. I've read some places that it's actually bad? Ahhhh, so much contradictory information?!
We were told no water is needed in their enclosures as their diet provides plenty.
We were also told to use this substrate:
We were told to feed romaine lettuce, that tomatoes are fine, that varying the diet is the most important thing, and that the Frozen tortoise pellets are the best, oh and to sprinkle with this "tortoise dust" supplement.
Also, beneath the substrate is this liner:
NOW, HERE ARE MY CONCERNS:
I noticed watery eyes today. I've read from various sources this is due to dehydration and low humidity. I'm sure my room is quite dry so tomorrow we are going to get a humidifier for the room. Also, today I put a bigger dish of water for him to soak in for a bit. Any other ideas on how to improve his condition and get rid of watery eyes?
Also, A lot of what they told us (and what we've been doing since September) contradicts with the doctrine of www.redfoots.com and a lot of other sites I've been reading good things about on here.
Here is a pic of his current home so you can get an idea of what's being done right and wrong:
His current temperature on the heated side seems to be around 80-85 degrees during the day. At night it's a tad lower.
The yellow dish is where I put his food. Upon freaking out when I saw he was dehydrated I put the dish I mentioned earlier in so he could soak for a while, and when I took it out I put some water in the yellow dish for tonight. Also, when I was taking out the soaking dish I poured all the water into the substrate evenly to try to make it more humid.
I also have this tropical mist spray from the same company that made that terrarium liner. I've been trying to do that every other day. Perhaps it should be done more? Or maybe I should be using just water?
Perhaps to make it more humid I should cut the lid of the rubbermade container in half or poke holes in it or something? Here is the lid to give you ideas:
ALSO: I've read some places that cat food once a weak can kill red foots or hurt them a lot. I'm very worried about not getting him the right diet, but also about picking the wrong advice and hurting him. Please, could someone explain what's true and what isn't?
Also, here is a picture taken of him when i took the other pics today (the wetness is from water I poured over him after he was done soaking in it):
And here is a picture taken October 4th:
PLEASE GET TICK TOCK ON THE RIGHT PATH! I suppose I shouldn't have so readily trusted everything the pet store told me. I'll try to provide any extra information I can if needed. I'm EXTREMLY worried about him. If he started to show pyramiding or any more severe sickness I'd feel just absolutley awful. I really REALLY want to do everything right with my little buddy. I feel awful enough about the puffy/watery eyes.
PLEASE HELP! I need to know what info is good and why the contradictory info is bad, what I need to change for his home, etc. PLEASE!
THANKS SO MUCH IN ADVANCE TO ANYONE WITH GOOD ADVICE!
OH!
Also, on the left is his heat lamp I keep on 24/7.
On the right is his UV lamp I keep on during the day. I was told it should be on 12 hours a day. I've read some places that it's actually bad? Ahhhh, so much contradictory information?!