Redfoot not eating

[BobbyJ]

hello guys ... I have a quick question about my new redfoot he's about 1 year old according to the pet store ... Since I brought him home a week ago , he has not eaten anything .. Everyday I give him food I tried kale,, strawberry , mango, and pineapple .. Any comments on when he'll start to eat .. My conditions are good I have him at 80degrees and 75% humidity.. He likes to burrow a lot also .. I have organic potting soil and then mulch on top of it .. Once again the only issue I have is that he won't eat ... What do I do ? Thanks

 

[stojanovski92113]

hello guys ... I have a quick question about my new redfoot he's about 1 year old according to the pet store ... Since I brought him home a week ago , he has not eaten anything .. Everyday I give him food I tried kale,, strawberry , mango, and pineapple .. Any comments on when he'll start to eat .. My conditions are good I have him at 80degrees and 75% humidity.. He likes to burrow a lot also .. I have organic potting soil and then mulch on top of it .. Once again the only issue I have is that he won't eat ... What do I do ? Thanks

What kind of lighting do you use? Do you soak your tortoise daily in Luke warm water?

 

[tortdad]

80 is the lowest the temp should be. Try bumping the temps about 6 degrees.

What are you using for heat and how are you measuring those temps?

Not eating for a couple days is normal for a tort adjusting to a new home. A week is too long though. Typically a tort not eating is because it's too cold. Post some pics of your set up so we can see what your working with.

 

[BobbyJ]

What kind of lighting do you use? Do you soak your tortoise daily in Luke warm water?

I have a 50 watt bulb and it does the uvb rays as well .. And I was soaking him every two days but in going to start to soak everyday

 

[tortdad]

What do you use for night time heat?

 

[BobbyJ]

This is my set up .. I keep 75% of his enclosure covered

 

[BobbyJ]

I don't have night time heat my house is 75 degrees so I just turn off his light .. I have a temparature and humidity gage that I use .. the pet store said he was eating tortoise food pellets but I heard that's the worst thing for them

 

[tortdad]

Let's see the temp gauge

You need night time heat. Get a CHE, they put off heat without any light. It's best to hook it up to a thermostat.

 

[tortdad]

I don't have night time heat my house is 75 degrees so I just turn off his light .. I have a temparature and humidity gage that I use .. the pet store said he was eating tortoise food pellets but I heard that's the worst thing for them

Forget everything the pet store told you.

Let's see that bulb too

 

[BobbyJ]

Forget everything the pet store told you.

Let's see that bulb too

Here's the bulb

 

[tortdad]

That bulb does not put out any UVB, it's strictly UVA and heat and it doesn't even put out a lot of heat.

You need UVB so you either need to get a MVB (mercury vapor bulb) it's a basking bulb and UVB all in one or you need a separate heat source and a tube type UVB light.

A CHE (ceramic heat emitter) is great for both day and night heat. Hook it up to a reptile thermostat and let it come on an off as needed day or night. Then run your lights on a timer or turn them on in the morning and off at night.

Where's your temp gauge located in the set up and what kind of gauge is it?

 

[tortdad]

Redfoot also like to live in the shade so put some plants in there to filter the light. That can be real or fake plants...anything to create shade.

 

[newCH]

Since he came from a pet store maybe hes used to eating Mazuri.
My little Sheldon is 3 inches. His temps range from 73-86, he hides alot also. I give him a soak at night & one wet Mazuri chunk before
he goes to bed. He eats it with gusto & really enjoys it, so for that
I will keep it as part of his routine. I feed greens in the am. He will
visit his food area severals times during the day. Besides his lights, I have a side mounted UTH that is on his warm side, no CHE.

Make sure your tort is hydrated.

 

[BobbyJ]

I don't the the CHE is going to be possible for me . As far as the bulb , how many watts should It be ? Thanks for all your help by the way , just got the tortoise and trying to learn all that I can about them

 

[tortdad]

I don't the the CHE is going to be possible for me . As far as the bulb , how many watts should It be ? Thanks for all your help by the way , just got the tortoise and trying to learn all that I can about them

Why is a CHE not possible?

The watts should be enough to make the entire enclosure about 85ish degrees.

Let's see your temp gauge

 

[stojanovski92113]

Providing a Mercury vapor bulb or a UVA/UVB light, daily soaks, & warmer temps will vastly improve your torts eating behaviors. I always use a CHE. It's not impossible, if you purchased other items at the pet store you will find that bulb in the reptile aisle with other lights.

 

[BobbyJ]

Where can I buy the CHE?

 

[tortdad]

Where can I buy the CHE?

On line or In The same pet store you bought that lamp and bulb.

 

[tortdad]

Do you sprinkle food with calcium powder?

 

[BobbyJ]

No I was going to get a cuttle bone though