Michalla
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2016
- Messages
- 33
My Red Foot Charlie doesn't seem to be eating to much this week, is this unusual or should I not be worried... He's ate a bit but not much in comparison to the last couple weeks that I've had him.
Hi and welcome.My Red Foot Charlie doesn't seem to be eating to much this week, is this unusual or should I not be worried... He's ate a bit but not much in comparison to the last couple weeks that I've had him.
Hi and welcome.
We need to know what sort of size this Tortoise is and what the enclosure is like before giving advice. Can you post photos of both please so we can help.
Calgary, AB, CanadaWhere in the world do you live?
I do have a lid on it. I just took it off for the picture, I also have a mercury vapour bulb and a normal heat bulb and a night heat bulb that stays on all the time. The temperature sits about 80-85, with some hotter spots and some cooler spots, and gets a little cooler at night. My lid is made out of plexiglass. I also have a humidifier in there to ensure the humidity is able to stay between 80 and 90.Ok, you've fallen into the same trap I fell into when I first started with redfoots. These guys are a tropical species and require an ambient temperature with high humidity.
The best way to achieve this in cold dry climates is to have a closed system enclosure. Yours is an open system(unless you took a lid off for photos).
You are going to have to create a lid for that enclosure, I would make an 'A' type lid for it. Then you will need a 100watt ceramic heat emitter(CHE) on a thermostat set at about 82/86f. You will also need a UVB source to imitate the suns UVB rays. I would get a 15" 5.0 UVB strip light, have thus on a timer to come on for 12/14hrs a day. With this basic set up your ambient heat and humidity will be fine.
Had a feeling you was going to say that.I do have a lid on it. I just took it off for the picture, I also have a mercury vapour bulb and a normal heat bulb and a night heat bulb that stays on all the time. The temperature sits about 80-85, with some hotter spots and some cooler spots, and gets a little cooler at night. My lid is made out of plexiglass. I also have a humidifier in there to ensure the humidity is able to stay between 80 and 90.
I've had him for 20 daysHad a feeling you was going to say that.
How long have you had the tort?
Ok.I've had him for 20 days
for the temperature I have two gauges and a IR temp gun so i get a few different readings, for humidity I just have a humidity gauge, but the humidifier is on 24/7 and i put probably 1 litre of water into his substrate to maintain moisture. And no i've never fed him protein.Ok.
Few things
How are you measuring the temps?
Those humidity gauges are useless, you need a digital type for accurate readings.
I would cover half that enclosure with orchid bark to help retain humidity but also provide a dryer surface.
Have you got any moss in the hides?
Have you fed protein lately, when they have had a protein feist they will slow down on eating for a few days.
Also even though your tort is indoors he will act strange as winter kicks in.
Kale, romaine lettuce, cucumber, green bell peppers, carrots, peas, apple, kiwi, and some ZooMed tortoise food to supplement his dietWhat sort of foods are you feeding?
And what ever other veggies and fruit that we have aroundWhat sort of foods are you feeding?
Ok, your not doing anything vastly wrong in my opinion.
My diet is mainly weeds/greens and a bit of fruit or mushroom every day. They get one piece of fruit or mushroom slightly bigger than their head then rest is weeds.
Out of your list I don't feed kale, cucumber, carrots or peas. I also don't give apple to my babies.
For fruit try mango, papaya and plums. They love mushrooms. Can you get weeds.
Your not at the panic stage, probably just slowing up a little, it may be even be because as your feeding regime kicks in he doesn't need the continuous amount you was seeing for the first couple of weeks.
How Often are you pouring 1ltr of water in and I wouldnt have that fogger on 24/7.
All I have is 2 water trays, the evaporation from them keeps humidity up, I never pour water in. I spray my torts twice a day(just the tort not the enclosure)
There is lots of keepers that poor water into the corners but I've just never needed too.I noticed you never pour water into the enclosure and rely on evaporation from water dishes but can I ask.. does your substrate not dry out very easily? I was always under the impression they needed a damp but not soaking substrate.. as you know I'm new also.
Cheers