Help with red foot tortoise care

[minicini]

I am about to get 2 baby red foot tortoises, any tips and advice for them? And what is a good enclosure?

 

[minicini]

will a plastic container work? they will be at my living room

 

[mojo_1]

will a plastic container work? they will be at my living room

First thing don't put them together ever. Hatchlings need minimum of 4x2x2 enclosure. A Rubbermaid tote will work it will need to be closed up to maintain humidity and temperature. Temp should be 80-84° all the time and humidity above 80% all the time.
Substrate fur bark works the best. I use reptibark lower half of bark will need to be damp but not swimming in water. Top layer should be dry. To achieve this pour a cup of hot water in the corners of the enclosure. Lighting should be a 65 watt flood bulb or the led equivalent in the 5500K to 6500K range. UVA light should be a T5 10.0HO bulb. Heating should be a ceramic heat emitter 100 watt on a thermostat controller.

 

[mojo_1]

The easiest enclosure would probably be the one from animal plastics. But it's expensive. Other members here have have built their enclosures and put a pop-up greenhouse over them to maintain temperature and humidity. This is my enclosure

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello!

Most key points were outlined above. And here is a couple of post to read as well:
1. The very basics of tortoise care and common mistakes: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/info-for-new-people-please-read-this-first.202363/
2. An easy to read and accurate care sheet: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/redfoot-tortoise-care-sheet.175319/

The enclosures can be made of christmas tree plastic storage boxes, hydroponic grow tents, outdoor closets, bookcases, kiddie pools and garden beds with a lid or portable greenhouse over it and other similar things. The main criteria is a closed top (to retain heat and humidity), you don't want a tropical paradise (86F and dripping wet) in your living room

 

[ZEROPILOT]

My best tip would be DO NOT GET TWO.
Tortoises are solitary.
Two Redfoot will require two closed chamber enclosures

 

[minicini]

First thing don't put them together ever. Hatchlings need minimum of 4x2x2 enclosure. A Rubbermaid tote will work it will need to be closed up to maintain humidity and temperature. Temp should be 80-84° all the time and humidity above 80% all the time.
Substrate fur bark works the best. I use reptibark lower half of bark will need to be damp but not swimming in water. Top layer should be dry. To achieve this pour a cup of hot water in the corners of the enclosure. Lighting should be a 65 watt flood bulb or the led equivalent in the 5500K to 6500K range. UVA light should be a T5 10.0HO bulb. Heating should be a ceramic heat emitter 100 watt on a thermostat controller.

what should be the bedding?

 

[mojo_1]

what should be the bedding?

The reptibark fur tree bark

 

[ZEROPILOT]

what should be the bedding?

Orchid bark is fantastic. And available at hardware stores.
I get mine at the HOME DEPOT

 

[minicini]

Hello!

Most key points were outlined above. And here is a couple of post to read as well:
1. The very basics of tortoise care and common mistakes: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/info-for-new-people-please-read-this-first.202363/
2. An easy to read and accurate care sheet: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/redfoot-tortoise-care-sheet.175319/

The enclosures can be made of christmas tree plastic storage boxes, hydroponic grow tents, outdoor closets, bookcases, kiddie pools and garden beds with a lid or portable greenhouse over it and other similar things. The main criteria is a closed top (to retain heat and humidity), you don't want a tropical paradise (86F and dripping wet) in your living room

if i put a lid on, aren’t they not going to have oxygen? i’m planning to get a enclosure on amazon

 

[minicini]

i plan on getting either https://a.co/d/a1jQOSr or https://a.co/d/58fHUKT

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

if i put a lid on, aren’t they not going to have oxygen? i’m planning to get a enclosure on amazon

Don't worry, no risks here:
1. You won't have 100% hermetic enclosure - there always be some holes (for the wires, for example).
2. You will open it from time to time - to change water, do spot cleaning, feed them and so.
3. They don't require as much oxygen as we do.

 

[mojo_1]

i plan on getting either https://a.co/d/a1jQOSr or https://a.co/d/58fHUKT

Personal I wouldn't waste your money on those. They're not correct for a redfoot and you will have a long journey ahead of you trying to keep it at the right temp and humidity. I started with one of those because of bad information from outside sources. Also make sure you use a terracotta saucer for the water dish.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

i plan on getting either https://a.co/d/a1jQOSr or https://a.co/d/58fHUKT

These enclosures have some "well-known" problems:
1. There are small and as such suitable for hatchlings only (1-2 years at max).
2. They made of wood and may rot and degrade quickly in high humidity environment.
3. They are open-topped
4. They are low profile (13 inches, if not mistaken) and because of that you can't just drop lightning and heating on the mesh top.

Some problems can be addressed though:
1. You can use tin foil, plexiglass over meshed part or greenhouse top to cover the enclosure. This will help to keep humidity and heat inside.
2. You will need to carefully select lights and heaters suitable for low height.
3. Line the bottom with a shower curtain to protect wood from rot.
I feel they don't worth the hassle because of their size (simply put it's not a future-proof investment).

 

[minicini]

These enclosures have some "well-known" problems:
1. There are small and as such suitable for hatchlings only (1-2 years at max).
2. They made of wood and may rot and degrade quickly in high humidity environment.
3. They are open-topped
4. They are low profile (13 inches, if not mistaken) and because of that you can't just drop lightning and heating on the mesh top.

Some problems can be addressed though:
1. You can use tin foil, plexiglass over meshed part or greenhouse top to cover the enclosure. This will help to keep humidity and heat inside.
2. You will need to carefully select lights and heaters suitable for low height.
3. Line the bottom with a shower curtain to protect wood from rot.
I feel they don't worth the hassle because of their size (simply put it's not a future-proof investment).

which should i get?

 

[mojo_1]

which should i get?

Neither of the 2 you posted

 

[Maggie3fan]

I keep 1 (1) young RedFoot here...it is 6 feet long by 2.5 feet across. It stays consistantly 85% with 85 to 90% humidity...there is fine grade orchid bark for substrate, at one end is a ceramic heat emitter in the middle is a black light bulb and a chick brooder panel at the other, there are house plants, exotic plants, rocks, wood, hides and a paint roller pan for a soaking thing...



the newly renamed Layla
this is the brooder panel...it's on a rehostat...
you can see the humidity here
She loves pointing out her empty food dish

 

[minicini]

Don't worry, no risks here:
1. You won't have 100% hermetic enclosure - there always be some holes (for the wires, for example).
2. You will open it from time to time - to change water, do spot cleaning, feed them and so.
3. They don't require as much oxygen as we do.

what about in the night?

 

[minicini]

Neither of the 2 you posted

any recommendations?

I keep 1 (1) young RedFoot here...it is 6 feet long by 2.5 feet across. It stays consistantly 85% with 85 to 90% humidity...there is fine grade orchid bark for substrate, at one end is a ceramic heat emitter in the middle is a black light bulb and a chick brooder panel at the other, there are house plants, exotic plants, rocks, wood, hides and a paint roller pan for a soaking thing...


View attachment 366121
the newly renamed LaylaView attachment 366122
this is the brooder panel...it's on a rehostat...View attachment 366123
you can see the humidity hereView attachment 366125
She loves pointing out her empty food dishView attachment 366126

would you say orchid bark or reptibark for bedding

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

what about in the night?

There should be enough oxygen to sleep through the night, because tortoise enclosures should be spacious - they need space to roam.

Of course, if you stuff your tortoise in a 1 gallon Tupperware container with an airtight lid - there will be the real risk of suffocation. But we are talking about 40 gallon storage boxes (they aren't airtight).