How Much do Redfoot hatchlings eat in one meal? and also I notice a soft shell..

[brighteous86]

Hi! from my previous post, I had a problem about my
hatchling redfoot tortoise about 3 month old not eating.
However, kicking in the humidifier gave me results in
making the little guy eat well. He ate some greens, munched on
lettuce and dandelion greens after his problem in not eating,
but afterwards, he has gone a bit slow on eating again.

The normal temps are kept at 93 degrees on the basking spot,
and 83 in the non basking area, also, his humidity is always
kept 80 or higher in 40 gallon tank with three sides covered up
and only one glass showing. At night I turn off the light and
only keep the non light heat emmiter on to keep the temps at 80.


I offer him fruit or variety of greens such as dandelion greens,
spring mix, lettuce, hibicus, collard greens. He actually takes two or three bites, and walks away from it. when I slice up some bananas for him, he eats about the amount of a human's pinky nail and walks away
(thats normally how much he eats) This is about three or four bites.

I am kind of concerned if the little guy is not eating enough
and it is leading to him having a soft shell.
as I was giving him his bath the other day, I noticed that
his belly shell was rather soft and squishy when I gently press it.
I was wondering if this was normal for a hatchling, and I have
confirmed that hatchlings do have a soft shell, but it seemed
mine was more squishy than described.

The eating problem is stressing me, and I believe it is stressing him
out even more, I try to make the whole environment right for him,
and will do anything to allow him to have everything set right
to be a happy little tortoise.
but something seems to be wrong in not triggering his appetite.

Just for a side note, I took him to the vet, and the vet told me that
he didn't have any respitory problems or any symptom of illness, so that
was a relief.

For the not eating issue, I would like to know if that is the amount
a normal hatchling would eat, and if I am overreacting, or if
I am doing something wrong in stressing the little guy. I only pick him up
when I give him a bath and leave him to wander around on its own.
He is a rather very active little guy who climbs rocks and wood that I
offered him in his enclosure. When I pick him up for baths, he actually has strong legs and arms. I am worried that he will become weaker..

I have already done everything I can that is stated in the tortoise library from great replies by many experts. I believe I am new to
this whole tortoise care thing, so if there are any experienced redfoot
keepers who have kept hatchlings young as mine and has experienced same questions and concerns previously, your advice will be
most appreciated. It is not a problem in being stressed myself,
but I want to actually help him from becoming weaker every day.

I will be awaiting your prompt replies redfoot experts! Thank you!

 

[FLINTUS]

Hi,
Hatchlings shells are naturally soft but maybe just up the amount of calcium powder you're using and feed high-calcium foods. In terms of eating, redfoots as babies can only nibble or eat the whole stuff. My two redfoots have very different appetitites indeed. I would not worry too much as long as he is eating regularly, slow growth is better than fast. Try more weeds rather than veg, plantain is a favourite. Also, puree fruit to create a red looking blend(in my experience they'll eat anything red) to pour on his greens. Also, mushrooms, especially if microwaved for 20 seconds and then cooled so they have a more intense smell, are particular favourites.
Hope this helps.