Red foot enclosure

Hello,

My Red foot tortoise is about 8 years old. I got her from petland and I am a bit scared because they sold me an aquarium tank for her. I did some research and read that they should never be put in a tank? I guess I just need advice as to where to go from here? I was thinking of hand making a wooden enclosure for her. I notice she always tries to "escape" through the glass and she tips herself over a lot and it almost looks like she's trying to hurt herself.. I want to make sure I have a habitat for her where she feels safe and secure but also has room to roam around in. The tank I have her in is 4ft in length and the width is 16 inches.
Another thing, I have been getting little flies in my tank that look exactly like fruit flies. The substrate I use for her tank is coconut fiber and cypress mulch put together. I don't know where these flies are coming from. I have read many threads about flies/maggots being in their tortoise tank but these are not maggots or the type of flies they have described.

Aquariums are sometimes ok for hatchlings, but always cover it around the sides. It's very stressful for them to be able to see out. They'll keep trying to get out, but are unable to.
Yours is way too big for that enclosure, as I'm sure you're aware. Also, change your water dish to a Terra Cotta saucer big enough for her to soak her whole body in. Most people here would agree that the water dish you have is good for other reptiles, not tortoises.
You can find good ideas in the enclosure section of this forum. Just read up.

KatnBlaze said:

Hello,

My Red foot tortoise is about 8 years old. I got her from petland and I am a bit scared because they sold me an aquarium tank for her. I did some research and read that they should never be put in a tank? I guess I just need advice as to where to go from here? I was thinking of hand making a wooden enclosure for her. I notice she always tries to "escape" through the glass and she tips herself over a lot and it almost looks like she's trying to hurt herself.. I want to make sure I have a habitat for her where she feels safe and secure but also has room to roam around in. The tank I have her in is 4ft in length and the width is 16 inches.
Another thing, I have been getting little flies in my tank that look exactly like fruit flies. The substrate I use for her tank is coconut fiber and cypress mulch put together. I don't know where these flies are coming from. I have read many threads about flies/maggots being in their tortoise tank but these are not maggots or the type of flies they have described.

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The tank would be great for baby tort. I raised mine (also RF) in 4 gal breeder and wouldn't do it any other way bcs it was fairly easy to keep consistent temps and humidity inside. Mine are 2 yrs old and this Spring started spending whole day in their big Tortoise Garden in my backyard. I put them in their old tank only to sleep in at night. They come inside at sunset, into the tub for about 20-30 min, eat supper and lights out until next morning. I have never seen them escape through the glass. Maybe it's bcs I got them as tiny 2" hatchlings and their tank was heavily planted with live plants, had caves and hills, lots of places to hide? They don't like to be exposed. Even to this day, as juveniles @ 8 and 9" placed outside they go straight for the nearest big plants. I'm saying all this bcs if you live where you can keep her outdoors in nice enclosed garden area planted with safe plants for her, then you can keep the tank and do what I do. But if you keep her indoors only then I'd definitely look into much bigger place for her. As for the flies, I briefly had them soon after changing out substrate, added couple of pillbugs and the flies have been long gone. Best of luck and keep us posted

Hi there. My red foot came in the same size glass aquarium. We recently built her a 30X72 wooden enclosure. She loves it! I love looking at her from my LazyBoy lol.

Katyann said:

View attachment 216636 View attachment 216637 Hi there. My red foot came in the same size glass aquarium. We recently built her a 30X72 wooden enclosure. She loves it! I love looking at her from my LazyBoy lol.

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Wow - I just love that. I would love to have one of those.

I'm a bit curious about the glass tank problem. Is it possible that torts that are raised in such a way that they can see out, will learn that glass tanks are OK? It seems that my two RFs doesn't mind, as long as they have cover in their hides. They don't try to get out after that first time when I brought them home. Now they don't mind me looking at them, and they haven't tried to climb out. They even figured out that Medusa can't get to them from his aquarium, so they totally ignore him now. I know most exotic pets learn more than people give them credit for, and torts are smart, so... just wondering.

I've also never had issues with glass enclosures. But all tortoises are not the same animal....
Can you have an outdoors enclosure where you live?
Outdoors would be best for a sub adult RF.
Your tortoise needs a lot of room.
As much as you can provide.

Katyann said:

View attachment 216636 View attachment 216637 Hi there. My red foot came in the same size glass aquarium. We recently built her a 30X72 wooden enclosure. She loves it! I love looking at her from my LazyBoy lol.

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WOW! This is super cool! Does she bang up against the glass a lot?

Hi. No, she just lifts her head and peeks out a bit. Then she goes on about her business.

Katyann said:

Hi. No, she just lifts her head and peeks out a bit. Then she goes on about her business.

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Okay awesome. I was actually worried that maybe she would miss being able to see out of the tank, thanks for the feedback!

Hey there!
I also have a redfoot about the same size and age of your tort! I also use the same tank you have as a night time hide. She hangs out all day outside in the garden and I bring her in around sunset. I feed her/soak her and then she konks out in her tank for the night. The glass is halfway covered with that terrarium film. I have a half buried terra-cotta pot under a ceramic heat emitter as a hide. I have about 6in of cypress mulch in there and keep it moist with a spray bottle. Depending on where you live, keeping a red-foot can seem like a balancing act but dont give up! You just have to play with different scenarios until you find out what works for you and your tort! Good Luck!