Hi All redfoot keepers:
My "baby" rescue has been growing at a really aggressive rate since about 4 months after we adopted him, got him treated for various deficiencies and ailments, and then put him in his own, large table and getting him outside to exercise in our 80' x 60' yard (always supervised closely) and tortoise-planted garden.
This high rate of growth doesn't seem very "normal" to us, and his sibling is about 25% of his size and weight, but we can't judge by that because the sib was allergic to Baytril for his severe RI, and had some other contributing factors, so he's just growing slowly on his own timeframe, we believe, and due to being dehydrated and malnourished his entire life prior to our adopting him.
Recently, as they are both slowing down and not getting outside due to the cold weather where we live, we are seeing this VERY large ridge line forming along the back of the largest one's shell. We are soaking him every day as long as he likes, and feeding a good balanced redfoot diet including all fresh dark greens, a bit of Mazuri, a bit of fruit when we can get good fresh fruit at the organic produce stand- nothing has changed in his diet or care for about 8 months, since we moved him to his new, large table.
He's also still really interactive with us, alert, and very active and curious physically.
What should I "do" for this ridgeline please- we have never seen one this high on any of our 3 redfoots before.
Thanks for any advice and help in case we are doing something with him that may be causing this irregular growth.
Karen
My "baby" rescue has been growing at a really aggressive rate since about 4 months after we adopted him, got him treated for various deficiencies and ailments, and then put him in his own, large table and getting him outside to exercise in our 80' x 60' yard (always supervised closely) and tortoise-planted garden.
This high rate of growth doesn't seem very "normal" to us, and his sibling is about 25% of his size and weight, but we can't judge by that because the sib was allergic to Baytril for his severe RI, and had some other contributing factors, so he's just growing slowly on his own timeframe, we believe, and due to being dehydrated and malnourished his entire life prior to our adopting him.
Recently, as they are both slowing down and not getting outside due to the cold weather where we live, we are seeing this VERY large ridge line forming along the back of the largest one's shell. We are soaking him every day as long as he likes, and feeding a good balanced redfoot diet including all fresh dark greens, a bit of Mazuri, a bit of fruit when we can get good fresh fruit at the organic produce stand- nothing has changed in his diet or care for about 8 months, since we moved him to his new, large table.
He's also still really interactive with us, alert, and very active and curious physically.
What should I "do" for this ridgeline please- we have never seen one this high on any of our 3 redfoots before.
Thanks for any advice and help in case we are doing something with him that may be causing this irregular growth.
Karen