Hi! I brought this Redfoot hatchling home about 3 weeks ago now, close to 4 months old now as far as I was told. I’ve noticed his skin is getting more and more flaky and now it looks a little greenish around the beak so I’m somewhat concerned. Is this normal shedding or should I try some at home treatments/ go to a vet? He has average 80-85% humidity in his enclosure, 88 degrees at his basking spot. I’m using reptibark substrate with some sphaglum moss mixed in for moisture. Any help would be appreciated.
Dry Head on Redfoot
- Thread starter lessly
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mojo_1
Well-Known Member
His entire enclosure should be average 84 degrees. Redfoots don't need a basking spot or a hot and cool side. Also you should be giving him a 30 min soak in warm water every day.
He gets daily soaks but maybe too short then, only 15 mins. I’ll centralize his heat lamp so it’s all the same. Is it just dry skin from being dehydrated?
mojo_1
Well-Known Member
I would say that is the main cause. Also do you have hard water? It could be making it appear more dry. How is the little guys poops? Color, size, consistency.
They’re dark greenish black color maybe thumbnail size and mostly solid. He poops daily. I use filtered tap water, looking up my local tap it’s definitely harder than average.
mojo_1
Well-Known Member
A good size poop out of them is about the length of their body. Otherwise it sounds like it looks right.
Alex and the Redfoot
Well-Known Member
The greenish hue on the lower beak is, most likely, because of greens he eats.
White stains could be because of hard water. Tortoises don't shed all at once. Do you use filtered water for drinking or soaking him? Spray some filtered water over the black surface and let it dry on the sun - you should see stains too if the filter doesn't cope. Water hardness is sometimes seasonal.
How do you maintain humidity in the enclosure? If it's a fogger, mister or ultrasonic himidifier and it's not filled with a distilled water - that could be the reason.
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Moss is a super dangerous impaction hazard. I'd remove it right away.
It gets eaten and it doesn't get digested.
As for the tortoise, I see nothing alarming
It gets eaten and it doesn't get digested.
As for the tortoise, I see nothing alarming
Thanks for the responses. I’ll need to redo his enclosure without the moss as I’d gotten it for humidity while I was waiting for my fogger to come in. The fogger I use has the same filtered water and it probably is what’s drying up his head… I will adjust and report back if there’s an improvement, thanks all.
mojo_1
Well-Known Member
With just Reptibark and proper heat sources you won't need the fogger.
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Moss does hold in moisture. It's good with DART FROGS. But not with tortoises.
If you use something like orchid bark and inside a closed chamber enclosure you won't need a fogger or any type of humidifier.
It's an unnecessary complexity
