So I just got a baby redfoot and am pretty new to the caring for it. I have set up a pretty basic enclosure with bark substrate, a little water pool, a half log for hiding, a UV lamp for vitamin D3, and a heat lamp on one side to keep the temperature at 80-90.
I have not added plants yet so it looks pretty barren. My question is, do these tortoises care whether the plants are fake or not? I'd imagine they would be happier with real plants but I really don't know. I noticed a lot of people grow plants in pots and put them in the enclosure, but I was hoping to go for a more natural look and wanted to add some soil to the enclosure and grow the plants right in there. How do I make sure my tortoise eats what's in his food dish instead of snacking on the plants? If I go with fake plants, do the tortoises tend to try and eat those?
I'm also having problems with humidity. I spray the enclosure thoroughly to get the humidity up to about 80-85, but within a few hours it is already down to about 40. How can I improve the humidity situation without having to spray multiple times per day?
Lastly, my tortoise seems overly timid. I've had him for about five days and I've never seen him come out of his hide on his own. For feeding, I have to pick him up and place him in front of his food. When I do this, he devours whatever is in front of him as if he hasn't eaten in a month. So it looks like he is always hungry when I place him in front of his food, but I have never seen him come out of his hide to eat on his own. Is this normal for baby redfoots or not?
tl;dr:
1. What is better real or fake plants?
2. How do I make sure my tortoise eats his food instead of the enclosure plants?
3. Do redfoots tend to munch on fake plastic plants? If so, how do I avoid this?
4. How do I maintain the humidity at around 80 without having to spray the enclosure multiple times per day? I am currently using a glass enclosure with moisture-holding bark substrate.
5. I've never seen my tortoise come out of his hide to eat on his own. When I place him in front of his food, he eats as if he is starving. Problem?
I have not added plants yet so it looks pretty barren. My question is, do these tortoises care whether the plants are fake or not? I'd imagine they would be happier with real plants but I really don't know. I noticed a lot of people grow plants in pots and put them in the enclosure, but I was hoping to go for a more natural look and wanted to add some soil to the enclosure and grow the plants right in there. How do I make sure my tortoise eats what's in his food dish instead of snacking on the plants? If I go with fake plants, do the tortoises tend to try and eat those?
I'm also having problems with humidity. I spray the enclosure thoroughly to get the humidity up to about 80-85, but within a few hours it is already down to about 40. How can I improve the humidity situation without having to spray multiple times per day?
Lastly, my tortoise seems overly timid. I've had him for about five days and I've never seen him come out of his hide on his own. For feeding, I have to pick him up and place him in front of his food. When I do this, he devours whatever is in front of him as if he hasn't eaten in a month. So it looks like he is always hungry when I place him in front of his food, but I have never seen him come out of his hide to eat on his own. Is this normal for baby redfoots or not?
tl;dr:
1. What is better real or fake plants?
2. How do I make sure my tortoise eats his food instead of the enclosure plants?
3. Do redfoots tend to munch on fake plastic plants? If so, how do I avoid this?
4. How do I maintain the humidity at around 80 without having to spray the enclosure multiple times per day? I am currently using a glass enclosure with moisture-holding bark substrate.
5. I've never seen my tortoise come out of his hide to eat on his own. When I place him in front of his food, he eats as if he is starving. Problem?