Redfoot Set Up

[Jennifer M]

Here's my current redfoot setup. I still have a couple of things to do
*Strip UVB light will be here tomorrow
*I will be HVAC taping the open wire around the heat light and UVB
*Plexiglass will be on top of the other side to hold in heat and humidity

Thoughts?

 

[g4mobile]

Did you read this guide? There's very valuable information.

Redfoot Tortoise Caresheet

REDFOOT TORTOISE CARESHEET ALL Tortoises on the planet require that 4 parameters be "IN BALANCE". How this is accomplished ( or required ) is as varied as there are regions and keepers on the planet. Temperature - Humidity - Lighting - Diet Redfoot tortoises require the same parameters -...

www.tortoiseforum.org

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Here's my current redfoot setup. I still have a couple of things to do
*Strip UVB light will be here tomorrow
*I will be HVAC taping the open wire around the heat light and UVB
*Plexiglass will be on top of the other side to hold in heat and humidity

Thoughts?
View attachment 363211

Hello!
1. Moss in the enclosure is a no-go. They can eat it and this will result in impaction. Or they can tangle in it badly.
2. The water dish should be non-glazed, clay or terracota saucer. Anything slippery might result in flipping and drowning.
3. UVB should be place under the plexiglass, just in case.
4. What is the substrate here?

The care sheets in the Redfoots section might have outdated information. E.g. feeding every other day. Please, keep it in mind. Ask if in doubt.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Hello!
1. Moss in the enclosure is a no-go. They can eat it and this will result in impaction. Or they can tangle in it badly.
2. The water dish should be non-glazed, clay or terracota saucer. Anything slippery might result in flipping and drowning.
3. UVB should be place under the plexiglass, just in case.
4. What is the substrate here?

The care sheets in the Redfoots section might have outdated information. E.g. feeding every other day. Please, keep it in mind. Ask if in doubt.

Nice job @Alex and the Redfoot

I second these points.

 

[Jennifer M]

Hello!
1. Moss in the enclosure is a no-go. They can eat it and this will result in impaction. Or they can tangle in it badly.
2. The water dish should be non-glazed, clay or terracota saucer. Anything slippery might result in flipping and drowning.
3. UVB should be place under the plexiglass, just in case.
4. What is the substrate here?

The care sheets in the Redfoots section might have outdated information. E.g. feeding every other day. Please, keep it in mind. Ask if in doubt.

Thanks!
*I will take the moss out.
*I will change the water dish.
*The UVB strip will be on top or wire.
*It is organic top soil.

 

[COmtnLady]

It is really hard to keep the humidity at a consistent level with an "open" top. The wire mesh lets the moisture all escape.

What we did when ours was small enough to be in one of those tubs (which I really like, by the way) is cut a hole not quite the size of the light fixture and used actual duct tape (not the plastic versions that don't deal with heat well) to seal around the edges of the reflector/light-cover. That way it kept the humidity in fairly well.

Tubs seal too tightly if the lid is put on the way its supposed to be for storage, so we left the top open while doing soaks so that there was an exchange of air. and sometimes put the lid on with a small space at one end to vent it. That was how we regulated the humidity and made sure the air wasn't "used up" and stale. She would yawn when it started to get stale.


Also, soil, even organic, isn't the best. We've had great success using Coco Coir with a layer of Orchid Bark over it. Get the compressed brick of Coco Coir, its cheaper, and fluffs up HUGE when soaked in water. Wring it out and put a couple inches in the bottom of the tub (when your tort is bigger go deeper) and about the same depth of the ReptiBark/Orchid Bark on top of the Coir. The Coco Coir holds the moisture in to help with humidity, and the Orchid Bark keeps your (VERYCUTE!!!) tortoise on something dry so it doesn't have problems with fungus and such.




P.S.

I like this care sheet better ~

Please critique my redfoot care sheet!(picture heavy)

On another site (reptile amino), we are in desperate need a of a redfoot care sheet. So, I created one. I have never owned a redfoot, nor have I done extensive research of their care, so I definitely need people to check it for me. Here it is with all of the pictures-

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Agree on changing soil. However mixing substrates is not necessary. Orchid bark keeps humidity just fine.
To make top layer dry and lower layers wet - just pour water in enclosure corners. Spraying it on top doesn't give prolonged effect and wet top layer might result in plastron fungus as have been noted.

 

[COmtnLady]

It is really hard to keep the humidity at a consistent level with an "open" top. The wire mesh lets the moisture all escape.

What we did when ours was small enough to be in one of those tubs (which I really like, by the way) is cut a hole not quite the size of the light fixture and used actual duct tape (not the plastic versions that don't deal with heat well) to seal around the edges of the reflector/light-cover. That way it kept the humidity in fairly well.

Tubs seal too tightly if the lid is put on the way its supposed to be for storage, so we left the top open while doing soaks so that there was an exchange of air. and sometimes put the lid on with a small space at one end to vent it. That was how we regulated the humidity and made sure the air wasn't "used up" and stale. She would yawn when it started to get stale.


Also, soil, even organic, isn't the best. We've had great success using Coco Coir with a layer of Orchid Bark over it. Get the compressed brick of Coco Coir, its cheaper, and fluffs up HUGE when soaked in water. Wring it out and put a couple inches in the bottom of the tub (when your tort is bigger go deeper) and about the same depth of the ReptiBark/Orchid Bark on top of the Coir. The Coco Coir holds the moisture in to help with humidity, and the Orchid Bark keeps your (VERYCUTE!!!) tortoise on something dry so it doesn't have problems with fungus and such.




P.S.

I like this care sheet better ~

Please critique my redfoot care sheet!(picture heavy)

On another site (reptile amino), we are in desperate need a of a redfoot care sheet. So, I created one. I have never owned a redfoot, nor have I done extensive research of their care, so I definitely need people to check it for me. Here it is with all of the pictures-

tortoiseforum.org

And this care sheet has some flaws (it uses some moss and that's a definite no-no).

 

[Jennifer M]

Agree on changing soil. However mixing substrates is not necessary. Orchid bark keeps humidity just fine.
To make top layer dry and lower layers wet - just pour water in enclosure corners. Spraying it on top doesn't give prolonged effect and wet top layer might result in plastron fungus as have been noted.

I will be hanging the substrate to Orchid bark. Any particular kind or brand? I don't have many options locally so I may need to order online.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I will be hanging the substrate to Orchid bark. Any particular kind or brand? I don't have many options locally so I may need to order online.

Home Depot is where I get mine.

 

[Jennifer M]

Home Depot is where I get mine.

Good to know! We do have that at our local Home Depot. I'll go pick some up this afternoon.

 

[Jennifer M]

Another question about keeping heat and humidity in. Could I use greenhouse plastic instead of the Plexiglass?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Another question about keeping heat and humidity in. Could I use greenhouse plastic instead of the Plexiglass?

Yes.
Lots of people do that.
Of course you'll need to keep your heat sources away from it.

 

[Jennifer M]

So my local home depot does not have that Orchid bark. Would this from Amazon work?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

So my local home depot does not have that Orchid bark. Would this from Amazon work?

It's a pine bark, unfortunately. If it's factory treated it might work, if not it might cause irritations, especially in closed chamber. For tortoises the fir bark is a safe choice.

 

[mojo_1]

It's a little more expensive but the pet stores should have reptibark if you can't find the Orchid bark.

 

[Jennifer M]

Will this work

 

[mojo_1]

Yes. That's what I use. I get the 24 quart bag

 

[COmtnLady]

The cheaper versions are at Home Depot and some similar places, but until you're comfortable with what works and what you like, go with the expensive kind (the ReptiBark). Check PetsMart before buying from Amazon. A lot of the time PetsMart is as expensive as Amazon, but every once in a while they have some random pretty good sales. Get on their emailing list, and stop in their brick-n-mortar sometimes when you are just passing by (that's when you find sales that they didn't put in the emails).

Also, this isn't like kitty litter or a bird cage. You don't need to change it very often. Daily removal of poo and debris is important, but once its set up let it be unless something weird happens. With Redfoots needing the high humidity once in a while things can get a mildew or a funny smell (its only happened in ours once in several years, so don't worry about it). - you'll know if something is off before long. Right now its all new, but you'll be an old pro in no time!

 

[mojo_1]

Also the pet stores will usually price match with their competitors. So look up prices on all the pet stores.