Red foot questions

[Mikael]

1. I have him in a tortoise table with a ceramic heat emitter in the back built in hiding area. The humidity in the back humid hide stays around 65 and temps around 85 and in the normal area it is a bit less my substrate is organic soil with peat moss mix with spaghnum moss on top. How do I raise humidity.

2. In my soil I had perlite couldn't find any without. As I see it I am picking It out. How will it affect my tort?

3 in the "normal roaming area" what do you guys use to keep up heat in there a basking bulb or a ceramic heat emitter.

4. What do you recommend for air humidity 80+ or 70+ Thanks.

 

[Mikael]

Oh and I'm getting a UVB 5.0 tube

 

[crimson_lotus]

I don't know about perlite, but is your tortoise table closed? Open top tortoise tables don't seem to hold humidity in as well. I bought a shower curtain for the top of mine.

I actually have two lights - a CHE and a basking light. The basking light needs to be turned on during the day. Redfoots don't really enjoy a lot of light so I switch out the basking light with the CHE at night to keep it dark so they can sleep.

Humidity for a Redfoot should be around 80-90%. Temps should be mid 80's.

Here is a link to a helpful site:

https://sites.google.com/site/tortoiselibrary/species-information/chelonoidis

 

[Mikael]

I don't know about perlite, but is your tortoise table closed? Open top tortoise tables don't seem to hold humidity in as well. I bought a shower curtain for the top of mine.

I actually have two lights - a CHE and a basking light. The basking light needs to be turned on during the day. Redfoots don't really enjoy a lot of light so I switch out the basking light with the CHE at night to keep it dark so they can sleep.

Humidity for a Redfoot should be around 80-90%. Temps should be mid 80's.

Here is a link to a helpful site:

https://sites.google.com/site/tortoiselibrary/species-information/chelonoidis

Is it ok if the hot hide is around 85 and the air temps are around 75 is this okay or shouldi buy a basking bulb

 

[Mikael]

Oh and if the humid hide is around 70 and air humidity is around 65

 

[Mikael]

Is that okay

 

[crimson_lotus]

I would try to boost them up, it really effects their activity level. Maybe you should try bulbs with a higher wattage? How many watts do you have now?

 

[naturalman91]

Oh and I'm getting a UVB 5.0 tube

i use mid 80s temps and humidity 80%-90% but because i'm using a closed chamber my humidity almost never drops below 80% and seems to stay at 85-86% even at night time just remember with high humidity you can't let the enclosure drop below 80s even at night as with high humidity that will trigger a respiratory infection or shell rot

perlite if swallowed will impact your tort maybe even poison them i'm not 100% sure if its poisonious

during the day to keep a ambient temp of 84-85 i have 150w CHE set on a thermostat and the normal basking bulb you just have to remember if you are using a closed chamber you really MUST have thermostat it helps keep on a steady temp and insures that your tort doesn't get baked alive

 

[N2TORTS]

Perlite isn't Styrofoam. It's a volcanic rock...........
Perlite is a generic term for a naturally occurring siliceous rock. The distinguishing feature that sets perlite apart from other volcanic glasses is that when heated,it expands from four to twenty times its original volume,while retaining the same weight. Perlite is prized for its moisture retention and aeration properties in the horticulture industry. It has a neutral PH and when used in conjunction with vermiculite - a great base for rooting cuttings. Although there is no known toxicity levels if ingested (other than the fear of impaction) , the perlite dust can aggravate lungs and eyes. I would NOT use it as a suitable medium in an enclosure.
JD~

 

[naturalman91]

Perlite isn't Styrofoam. It's a volcanic rock...........
Perlite is a generic term for a naturally occurring siliceous rock. The distinguishing feature that sets perlite apart from other volcanic glasses is that when heated,it expands from four to twenty times its original volume,while retaining the same weight. Perlite is prized for its moisture retention and aeration properties in the horticulture industry. It has a neutral PH and when used in conjunction with vermiculite - a great base for rooting cuttings. Although there is no known toxicity levels if ingested (other than the fear of impaction) , the perlite dust can aggravate lungs and eyes. I would NOT use it as a suitable medium in an enclosure.
JD~

trust N2TORTS i swear he's the godfather of redfoots lol

 

[N2TORTS]

Well David .....I wouldn't say that as there are many more experienced breeders who I have met and learned from within this forum . I can say I learn from everyone's post as this can be simply put as "hands on experience". You can't get the variables that do take place from around the world with just printed information in a book.....But thank you for the Kuddo's.....my friend~
Back to the Perlite info ..... I do use it mixed with vermiculite as a medium when incubating my eggs. As the Perlite provides aeration thru-out the substrate ( to prevent molds), while the vermiculite retains the moisture.


JD~

 

[Mikael]

i use mid 80s temps and humidity 80%-90% but because i'm using a closed chamber my humidity almost never drops below 80% and seems to stay at 85-86% even at night time just remember with high humidity you can't let the enclosure drop below 80s even at night as with high humidity that will trigger a respiratory infection or shell rot

perlite if swallowed will impact your tort maybe even poison them i'm not 100% sure if its poisonious

during the day to keep a ambient temp of 84-85 i have 150w CHE set on a thermostat and the normal basking bulb you just have to remember if you are using a closed chamber you really MUST have thermostat it helps keep on a steady temp and insures that your tort doesn't get baked alive

How do you cover your tortoise table or is it already covered and I have a 60 watt CHE should I get another for the open area or should I get another basking bulb

 

[naturalman91]

How do you cover your tortoise table or is it already covered and I have a 60 watt CHE should I get another for the open area or should I get another basking bulb

my enclosure is big enough for my lights to fit inside and be covered with plastic the CHE all depends on you current temps but i would say 60w is a little small. if you have a basking lamp already i would just get another CHE redfoots HATE bright lights so the best way to provide heat is unseen

 

[Mikael]

my enclosure is big enough for my lights to fit inside and be covered with plastic the CHE all depends on you current temps but i would say 60w is a little small. if you have a basking lamp already i would just get another CHE redfoots HATE bright lights so the best way to provide heat is unseen

So my CHE keeps the temps at around 85 in the closed hide should I get a 100watt or a 150 watt and put the 60 in the open area?

 

[naturalman91]

So my CHE keeps the temps at around 85 in the closed hide should I get a 100watt or a 150 watt and put the 60 in the open area?

what do you mean by open area some pictures would help alot if you could. if the 60w keeps the closed chamber at 85 the the closed chamber is fine what is the Open area's temps? and do you already using a basking lamp in the open area?

 

[Mikael]

what do you mean by open area some pictures would help alot if you could. if the 60w keeps the closed chamber at 85 the the closed chamber is fine what is the Open area's temps? and do you already using a basking lamp in the open area?

No basking lamp and I'll post a pic of my cage no light other tan a UVB