Red footed tortoise help :)

[countrygirlcolorado]

Hi everyone!
My family and I just got a 4 year old red footed tort! I have a couple questions:
1) I was told it was a male but my mom thinks it is a female, is there an easy way to tell?
2) he seems to be making a "sneezing" sound. It's a little squeak. He is active and eating alot, is he sick or is that sound I'm hearing an alert sound?
Any help would be greatly appreciated! If anyone has any helpful hints for little guy I could use those too!
Thanks!!
Cheyenne

 

[Jacqui]

How big is he? We may be able to tell, if he is big enough if you take some pictures of his tail and also the plastron (bottom shell). Hard to give a good answer to the noise he is making, could just be from stress or having been living in too dry of an environment. Give him time to settle in and just watch and listen. See if it gets worse or more often. Almost forgot, congrats!

... will help us to give hints, if you tell us how you have fixed his new home.

 

[ascott]

How big is he? We may be able to tell, if he is big enough if you take some pictures of his tail and also the plastron (bottom shell). Hard to give a good answer to the noise he is making, could just be from stress or having been living in too dry of an environment. Give him time to settle in and just watch and listen. See if it gets worse or more often. Almost forgot, congrats!

... will help us to give hints, if you tell us how you have fixed his new home.

Ditto .....

 

[N2TORTS]

Keep him very warm and not too humid at this point but well hydrated. It sounds your new little guy might have a slight upper RI infection. Redfoots are noisy lil critters, but shouldn't be to squeeky or rasping.
Eyes clear?
Bubbles....from nose or eyes?

Give us so more info so we can try and help ya out ....:shy:


JD~

 

[Watsonpartyof4]

I would soak him! Everyday for a few days and see how he is.

 

[Madkins007]

Here is a link that may help you figure out the gender while you are getting a photo for us.

https://sites.google.com/site/tortoiselibrary/home/sexing-tortoises

(By the way- anyone got any better photos for me to use here?)

 

[countrygirlcolorado]

Boy or girl?

---

Oh and does anybody have any creative ideas for a hide away? I know they sell the half logs at pet stores but I can't seem to find one big enough for my tort. any help?!

 

[Mgridgaway]

Looks female to me!

Is the squeaking sound constant or just occasionally, like when she's eating? Mine sometimes makes a wheezy sound when she's got too much food in her mouth or her nares are partially covered. Like others have suggested, be sure to give her daily soaks and moisture rich food. Redfoots bought from stores (not sure if yours is) tend to be dehydrated.

If you want some basic care tips, these are the two guides I always recommend:

Your basic primer:
http://www.tortoisesupply.com/pages/Redfoot-Tortoise-Caresheet.html

Just about everything you want to know (mentioned before and maintained by our very own Madkins):
https://sites.google.com/site/tortoiselibrary/

 

[Vishnu2]

I second female. Any bubbles coming from nose? You can make a hide out of a Tupperware. Just cut the appropriate size hole.

 

[Nixxy]

Third, def female.

Tupperware works, or anything right size. I use a cat litter box I picked up for dirt cheap at Walmart, cut a hole in the front, voila.