Hello everyone,
I am new to this forum and to tortoise keeping. I did some research prior to getting Berry (my new baby). I got him a week ago and he is eating and pooping and walking around. I am in Florida and he is outside in his bin during the day and inside with a heater during the night.
But I have some questions. I've read the Redfoot care sheet on turtletary.com (thank you for posting it) and some other care sheets.
1. How often do I change the substrate? Berry poops in the morning when I soak him in warm water, but the substarte is wet to keep the humidity and he pees in it probably.
2. He gained 5 (0.176) grams in a week, is it about right? Or too much, too little?
3. Do I need to add calcium supplement now? I feed him hibiscus, endive, escarole, turnip greens and some fruit like strawberry, blueberry, melon, mango, etc. as suggested 2 days greens then 1 day fruit.
4. He is more active when he is outside compared to when he is inside. He is active up until 12 or 1 pm and then he retreats to his sleeping spot and sits there till the next morning when I wake him up for soaking. Is it ok?
5. I try to keep humidity in 70s, but during the night it falls around 55-60, is it OK? His temperatures are around 80-85 under the heat lamp and he does not have UVB inside only fluorescent light and ceramic heater.
6. I got him from breeder and he did not tell me how old he was, but he is tiny and still has his egg-tooth, how old do you think he is?
Some pictures of him outside attached. Thank you!!
I am new to this forum and to tortoise keeping. I did some research prior to getting Berry (my new baby). I got him a week ago and he is eating and pooping and walking around. I am in Florida and he is outside in his bin during the day and inside with a heater during the night.
But I have some questions. I've read the Redfoot care sheet on turtletary.com (thank you for posting it) and some other care sheets.
1. How often do I change the substrate? Berry poops in the morning when I soak him in warm water, but the substarte is wet to keep the humidity and he pees in it probably.
2. He gained 5 (0.176) grams in a week, is it about right? Or too much, too little?
3. Do I need to add calcium supplement now? I feed him hibiscus, endive, escarole, turnip greens and some fruit like strawberry, blueberry, melon, mango, etc. as suggested 2 days greens then 1 day fruit.
4. He is more active when he is outside compared to when he is inside. He is active up until 12 or 1 pm and then he retreats to his sleeping spot and sits there till the next morning when I wake him up for soaking. Is it ok?
5. I try to keep humidity in 70s, but during the night it falls around 55-60, is it OK? His temperatures are around 80-85 under the heat lamp and he does not have UVB inside only fluorescent light and ceramic heater.
6. I got him from breeder and he did not tell me how old he was, but he is tiny and still has his egg-tooth, how old do you think he is?
Some pictures of him outside attached. Thank you!!