Whayla
Member
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2014
- Messages
- 78
I've had my Red Foot tortoise, Tortuga, for about two months now. She is probably only about 5 inches. She's an early bird, so about 6-6:30 she's awake and is usually just sprawled out in the sunshine on the substrate. At around 8:30-10:30 I feed her and as soon as she is done eating she hops into the water dish. I know that Red Footed Tortoises urinate and defecate in water, and since her water is relatively warm from the UVB light above, I figured she was just digesting and urinating after eating. She never defecates in her water dish though, only when I soak her in a separate bathing tub. I also change her water dish every 2-3 days.
Recently, she has gotten into the water dish after eating as normal, but continues to stay there literally ALL DAY LONG. The light on her turns off at night, and sometimes I'll find her still passed out in the water dish after the "sun" has gone down. Once or twice, she stayed in there all night long. I was afraid she was going to drown! She has continued this behavior for awhile now.... eating, then napping all day long in the water.
I keep the humidity up to 60-80% at all times, and I flood the tank weekly because Tortuga likes to burrow in the substrate.
I've never had a problem with the temps/humidity.... I'm a little paranoid so I use multiple humidity and temperature gauges in the tank along with a laser thermometer to be 100% sure.
She eats beautifully and is fed a healthy varied diet.
Is this a bad thing?? Am I doing something wrong or is there something I should look for? Is she at risk for shell rot or anything that I should be particularly concerned about from sitting in the water all day long? What should I check or possibly do differently?
Or honestly..... am I just a paranoid tortoise parent?
Much appreciated.
Recently, she has gotten into the water dish after eating as normal, but continues to stay there literally ALL DAY LONG. The light on her turns off at night, and sometimes I'll find her still passed out in the water dish after the "sun" has gone down. Once or twice, she stayed in there all night long. I was afraid she was going to drown! She has continued this behavior for awhile now.... eating, then napping all day long in the water.
I keep the humidity up to 60-80% at all times, and I flood the tank weekly because Tortuga likes to burrow in the substrate.
I've never had a problem with the temps/humidity.... I'm a little paranoid so I use multiple humidity and temperature gauges in the tank along with a laser thermometer to be 100% sure.
She eats beautifully and is fed a healthy varied diet.
Is this a bad thing?? Am I doing something wrong or is there something I should look for? Is she at risk for shell rot or anything that I should be particularly concerned about from sitting in the water all day long? What should I check or possibly do differently?
Or honestly..... am I just a paranoid tortoise parent?
Much appreciated.