Hoping to confirm my setup is correct

I'm brand new to tortoises so I was just hoping someone could look this over and let me know if anything is wrong or missing. Thanks!

-Enclosure: 1ftx3ft tub for 4 month tortoise
-Substrate is sterile soil, moist but not damp, 2", topped with small chipped orchid bark, 1/2"
-Hide on one end with temp 88F via CHE, filled with damp sphagnum moss, dry hide on other end
-Ambient temp 83F. No variance at night.
-Day/night light cycle via nearby but indirect T5 bulb (it's high over a different enclosure)

-Food I will follow the stickied guide for amount and type, including cat food and calcium supplement. Can I use high protein dog food? (Right now he's eating Mazuri at the breeder's, can I cut that right out of his diet?)

-Water in a shallow non-tip ceramic dish, will spray the tortoise several times daily as well.

I'm not planning to include live plants in his enclosure until he's older, and his outdoor time will be limited to 3 months of the year.

Am I missing anything?

Yes, what species tortoise is this. All your settings and lights and such, depend on what tort you have. Post some pictures of your tort, it’s enclosure and temps. We can then help you better.

Sorry, I figured posting in red and yellow footed tortoises would narrow it down enough. I don't have the tortoise yet and the enclosure is still being tweaked which is why I'm checking now. I'd rather have it done before he gets here.

He's a cherry head redfoot, 4 months old.

Welcome!

Jamie

Hi

Thanks!

I believe the attached image is a picture of the tortoise I'm going to look at tomorrow.

What’s the humidity? Is it a closed chamber or open? He does need UV directly unless you can get him out daily. As for protein grain free dog or cat food is fine but my RF won’t touch it. He will eat chicken, shrimp, and fish so be prepared to play around but they need a pretty small amount about once per month.

Humidity is between 50-80%. I've got it at a stable 80% in the hide but it's an open enclosure so I'll have to mist it regularly. Would it be better to cover the top?

The stickied care sheet says his redfoot tortoises don't have UVB. I'm guessing that's as heavily debated here as it is with some of the lizard species I keep. I can slap a tube on him easily if I leave the top of the enclosure open if you think I need it.

Thanks!

I vote lid and mount a UVB tube inside. In warmer climates where the tort has year round outdoor exposure they don’t need it, but indoors without a perfect diet or natural sunlight it’s a recipe for MBD.

Unfortunately indoors a lid is the only way to hold in heat and humidity. There is no amount of misting that will maintain stable ambient humidity levels and heat leaves in an open top with cool air mixing in. Because RF’s need a moist humid environment cool temps encourage respiratory infection.

Makes sense. I'll slap a lid on there. Thanks!

geckers said:

Thanks!

I believe the attached image is a picture of the tortoise I'm going to look at tomorrow.

Click to expand...

Adorable!!

With UVB for a redfoot, do I want to go with a Reptisun 5.0 or 10.0? I'm also thinking of heating the whole area instead of just the enclosure with a radiant heat panel/thermostat combo I have laying around instead of a CHE. That way there's less stuff mounted under the lid. Is that overkill?

EllieMay said:

Adorable!!

Click to expand...

Thanks!

geckers said:

With UVB for a redfoot, do I want to go with a Reptisun 5.0 or 10.0? I'm also thinking of heating the whole area instead of just the enclosure with a radiant heat panel/thermostat combo I have laying around instead of a CHE. That way there's less stuff mounted under the lid. Is that overkill?


Thanks!

Click to expand...

Nope that’s perfect heat panels are ideal. I use the 5.0 lights btw.

daniellenc said:

Nope that’s perfect heat panels are ideal. I use the 5.0 lights btw.

Click to expand...

Perfect, thanks!