red foot tastes

[Stephenblock]

help my redfoot seems to be a sugar hound when it comes to food. He mostly eats the carrot pieces and strawberries and leaves the collards alone. Also noticed he only eats when I put him by the food plate. I know he is new so I should probably be patient with his activities. The inside of the enclosure is 92 on one side and and 86 on the other. Hopefully that isn't to warm. the humidity is about 50 to 60.

 

[Redstrike]

help my redfoot seems to be a sugar hound when it comes to food. He mostly eats the carrot pieces and strawberries and leaves the collards alone. Also noticed he only eats when I put him by the food plate. I know he is new so I should probably be patient with his activities. The inside of the enclosure is 92 on one side and and 86 on the other. Hopefully that isn't to warm. the humidity is about 50 to 60.

Drop those temps down to about 85 on the warm side and 80 on the cool side. 92 overall is okay for a basking spot (very small portion directly under the lamp/heat emitter) but way to warm for an air temp on the warm side. If you can get your humidity up by covering the enclosure, I'd recommend that too. 50-60% isn't terrible, but it could be improved especially if you have a hatchling. It may be okay for an adult but these torts really do like humidity.

Tough love is my recommendation for this sugar fix. I feed my redfoots fruit about once per week with portion size no larger than their head(s). Give him only greens for a few days, I bet he'll come around. Outdoor weeds are excellent (dandelion, plantain (plantago spp.), common mallow, wild grape, etc.). Most of these can be found in your yard unless you're in an arid climate.

 

[Stephenblock]

I am just guessing wit the humdity since I have a solid enclosure with some air holes the size of a pen in the top. It is fairly balmy inside. But my basking tem is 95. He does like to dig in his substrate and submerge himself. Maybe he likes the moisture. I will start the tough love today. Carrots are also considered treat food Id imagine?

 

[Redstrike]

I am just guessing wit the humdity since I have a solid enclosure with some air holes the size of a pen in the top. It is fairly balmy inside. But my basking tem is 95. He does like to dig in his substrate and submerge himself. Maybe he likes the moisture. I will start the tough love today. Carrots are also considered treat food Id imagine?

Yes there's a good amount of sugar in carrots. Squash has comparable vitamin A levels with less sugar. Not saying carrots are bad.

 

[Madkins007]

There are a lot of things that we can count as fruit that have a much better nutritional profile- squash, pumpkin, bell peppers, cucumbers, etc. There is not much in carrots that you cannot get out of yellow squash and peppers, and they are a more natural option as well.

And ditto Redstrike's suggestion about temps.