Couple of redfoot questions

[Ashley & Anthony DeGilio]

Hello, just had our first night with our new red foot!

The night temp was about 73 degrees, with a 90-95 basking area from a ceramic night heat lamp. Humidity stayed at around 80%.

Is that temp OK at night? During the day the temp in the cool area is about 75.

Also when it comes to eating, do you normally feed them once a day and take old food out after a couple hours or just leave it in and replace with the new food the next day?

 

[wellington]

Most likely too cold for that high of humidity. At least for most torts, we don't like the temos lower then 80. Cold and wet makes a sick tort. However, @Benjamin might be able to help you better then me.

 

[crimson_lotus]

I personally don't let it drop below 80. I feed my tortoise daily and take out her food once she's done and walked away.

 

[Ashley & Anthony DeGilio]

Any ideas on how to keep it 80+?

We have the tort in a big plastic tote in our room, we do not have a garage. Our house temp stays around 75. Like said we have lights (UVA/B heat and night ceramic heat). We have a pretty wet and humid area under one end of the tank, the middle is somewhat moist and the opposite end is more dry and where he tends to sleep.

 

[crimson_lotus]

Is the tote covered? Covering it would help keep the heat in. How many watts is that CHE for night time?

 

[kdub]

Keep your CHE above the area where he sleeps so you know he'll be warm at night. even if the other end drops a few degrees at least you'll know his sleeping area is warm

ZZZ

 

[Ashley & Anthony DeGilio]

110 watt I believe.

 

[Ashley & Anthony DeGilio]

Actually never mind.... I was mid reading the thermometer. It was at 80. It goes from 70-90 and skips 80.... So I though it was around 75 but it was really 80 lol

 

[Turtlepete]

As long as the tortoise isn't a recent hatchling, that temperature would be fine regardless..

 

[pfara]

What do you use to measure temps? Acu-rite models with probes (something like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013BKDO8/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20) are pretty decent with reading temps and humidity. A temp gun is also great to have in addition for instant spot checks.

If your new redfoot is a youngin' (under 1 year), I would suggest what everyone else says with temps *always* being above 80F. The first year is crucial to have all environmental factors on the safe side. After that, you can choose to stay that way or slack off like I did

Oh, and if you need it to be warmer, the only suggestion I can give you (if you don't have the setup closed off) is to add another heat source.

 

[newCH]

Thats great your in FL. No problems keeping up the humidity for your little guy.
I feed my Sheldon in the morning, I put on the lights, his little head pops out of his favorite corner. After he warms up a bit, he eats part of his food. Maybe he will eat the veggie or fruit and leave the greens. I leave it & he will return to eat the greens. In the evening I give him a soak & then a snack & after he's finished he puts himself to bed.