Hello all!

Newbie here trying to increase my knowledge as a future tortoise owner. I've been wanting a tortoise for some time, but circumstances were never quite right. Now that I'm an adult *cough cough and my 6 year old is asking for one, I figured it would be a great bonding thing for us. We've been reading up and I already made a tortoise table. Now I'm here to learn some more and find a potential place to purchase from. I'm planning on getting two red footed torts. We reside in Jax, FL. Included pic of tort table, but still deciding on lighting. Any info / tips would be greatly appreciated.

Florida has perfect outside weather for tortoises. If you get them out a few hours a day that could meet uv requirements. If possible I would also do an outside enclosure. Good luck

It's hard to get a true picture of the dimensions of that table, but I'm thinking it's too small.

...oh, and Welcome to the Forum!!

Welcome to the forum. I live in Florida Brooksville area. I keep my turtles and tortoises outside most of the year.
redfoots will do fine. Keeping them inside is ok ,but nothing is better then natural sunlight even if you only can give them 3-4 hour a day. I used landscape timbers for the pen and 2by4 and 1/4" hardware cloth for the lid. I also use concrete blocks two tall for some of my pens and 2by4 and
1/2" hardware cloth for hatchlings and very young tortoises. When I do bring animals in for our two weeks of winter I use either plywood boxes and or metal/plastic cattle watering containers. I have a lot of woods around me which i love ,but I have coyotes,bobcats,snakes,hawks,eagles,owls,raccoons,you name it we got it. I saw a black bear once about three years ago. Be careful of fire ants.
I also, wanted to make you aware smaller animals will overheat faster then larger ones even with a hide area.

The table is temporary. Eventually I would like to keep them outdoors exclusively. I'm taking my time drawing up plans for how I'd like it to look. Current table is 3' x 2'. I wanted to start with hatchlings. I was wondering about the UV requirements. The plan was to spend a few hours outside each day. The table will be set on casters to move it in / out.

I have some friends that breed redfoots in ST. Peterburg and will be at the Fire reptile show in lakeland on Sept 13th and 14th. I can find out if he has any or will have any for the show?.

Hello and Welcome Unfortunately, your table is too small for one hatchling, let alone two. You will need a high humidity without the top layer being wet. You will need heat for colder days or if you have AC on and a basking light, although some RF don't seem to bask, but still should be provided. Water dish and food dish and a hide. That can't work in that size table with an open top.

Looks like I'm gonna have to expand. Lol thought I was doing good....I was like "no way I'm putting these guys in a 20g aquarium"! Extras on order: lights, bowls, heat and hide.

Welcome to TFO!


May, Aussies, & Hermannis
IG: @AUSSOMEAUSSIES

Welcome to TFO, Florida is fantastic for several species of tortoises!

Hello and welcome to the TFO from AZ


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Welcome Russians are a great first time tortoise

turtlemanfla88 said:

I have some friends that breed redfoots in ST. Peterburg and will be at the Fire reptile show in lakeland on Sept 13th and 14th. I can find out if he has any or will have any for the show?.

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Not sure I can get away on that weekend, but any info would be great!

Welcome to the forum.

Welcome.