Newbie Looking for Help

[Ellie_A]

I have wanted a red foot tortoise for many years and I am finally in a position to get one. On Saturday I will be picking up a captive bred cherry head that is a few months old. I think that I have everything figured out but I want to be sure so here are my plans, please let me know if you see anything wrong or that can be improved on.

The temporary enclosure is 2'x4' with glass sides and a mesh top (we are building a 4'x8' tortoise table currently). I can cover part of the top as required to maintain humidity. I am thinking of a peat moss eco earth mixture for the substrate, a flat piece of slate under the basking lamp, 2 hides (hot end and cold end), a tortoise safe water dish and a 10.0 UV light. I'm aiming for a 95 degree basking spot and the cool end will be mid 70's.

Staple diet items will include spring mix, endive, kale and collards. Squashes and pepper will be added occasionally along with beet greens. Mango, strawberries and blueberries will be used as a treat once in a while as well as mealworms and phoenix worms. I will also put a cuttle bone in the enclosure.

I know that it is important not to overfeed but how much should I feed each day? The size of his head? Less? If I am providing a cuttle bone will I still need to dust the food with calcium? I use Repashy Calcium Plus for my other reptiles.

I have a Mist King that I can set up for him, would this be a good idea?

If you have any tips please let me know. I'm so excited!

 

[wellington]

The UVB will be diminished going through the mesh screen top. Either use a different top or cut holes where the light will be. The best water dish is a clay pot plant saucer. The dishes they make for torts are not big enough or safe. Your substrate sounds good. The mist king would be a good idea. I will let the RF experts fill you in in the diet and temps. BTW, Congrats on your new tort coming and do t forget to share pics.

 

[Ellie_A]

The UVB will be diminished going through the mesh screen top. Either use a different top or cut holes where the light will be. The best water dish is a clay pot plant saucer. The dishes they make for torts are not big enough or safe. Your substrate sounds good. The mist king would be a good idea. I will let the RF experts fill you in in the diet and temps. BTW, Congrats on your new tort coming and do t forget to share pics.

Sorry, I should have given more details about the lights. They are mounted inside the enclosure not sitting on top, the top is to keep the dogs out only. I will get a plant saucer instead and set up the mister

 

[FLINTUS]

Include more fruit-should make up about 30-40% of diet. Bsking spot bit high, lower by a few degrees and ambient temps higher, about 80. I would keep the 4 by 2 , there is no need for a 8 by 4 at that age and much harder to monitor everything-humidity should be 80%+.
In captivity, the basis of a red foot's diet should be 30-40% fruit and 60-70% weeds, veg, salad and flowers. They should also have access to a cuttle fish bone and a calcium supplement such as Nutrobal or Nekton MSA. Every fortnight a form of protein should be provided, often people use low fat, premium dog pellets or boiled chicken.
Good veg and weeds to use: Funghi, rocket, watercress, lambs lettuce, raddichio, carrot(in small quantities), cauliflower heart(small quantities), plantain, hibiscus, clover, forget-me-not, dandelion, kale(in limited amounts), escarole, chicory, endive, evening primrose, prickly pear and other cactuses, courgettes, squash and zucchini(although technically a fruit), peppeers(technically a fruit), mallow, cornflowers, thistle, pansies, vetch, bittercress and dead nettle.
Fruit: Lichees, bananas(very little though), strawberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, blackberries, papaya, mango, lichee, passion fruit, sharon fruit, pear, apple, kiwi,fig, cactus fruit, melon, blackberries,apricot, peach,plum, raspberries and blueberries.
Many people supplement these with pelleted diets. However, I feel as long as the range of food is diverse enough, there is no need for this. If you do use pellets, use them in small quantities and a good brand such as mazuri.
Also check out the tortoisetable site for more safe weeds

 

[Ellie_A]

Thanks. I think I will still build the larger table but I will block off at least half of it. I think that the humidity might be difficult to maintain in the smaller enclosure but I will see how it goes.

I will definitely increase the fruit, thanks for the list of fruits and veggies, that will help a lot. Is animal protein (such as chicken) better than insect protein (such as worms)? I have mazuri at home but was thinking that I will only use it as a last resort if there is nothing else in the house.

What is the benefit of Nutrobal or Nekton MSA over Repashy Calcium Plus?

 

[Madkins007]

The Library, linked in my sig, has a lot of articles that might help.

 

[FLINTUS]

Thanks. I think I will still build the larger table but I will block off at least half of it. I think that the humidity might be difficult to maintain in the smaller enclosure but I will see how it goes.

I will definitely increase the fruit, thanks for the list of fruits and veggies, that will help a lot. Is animal protein (such as chicken) better than insect protein (such as worms)? I have mazuri at home but was thinking that I will only use it as a last resort if there is nothing else in the house.

What is the benefit of Nutrobal or Nekton MSA over Repashy Calcium Plus?

I do not know if repashy calcium plus(does it have d3 as well-am in UK if that makes a difference. I use Nekton as most people have switched to it from nutrobal here, you can buy it on amazon.com

 

[Ellie_A]

Thanks, I will take a look at the articles.

The Repashy does have D3 as well as vitamins. I will take a look at the analysis of both products and see if they are similar.

 

[Ellie_A]

I picked up my new baby on Saturday and oh my is he ever cute! Introducing tortaclese!

 

[AZtortMom]

Cutie pie!


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