Here we go again .. diet has little to do with the condition or growth of a carapace! True - in the wild - redfoot tortoises grow smooth because it is humid.. they have diets rich in calcium and D3 and they live at the edge of the rain forest where they can get shade out of the sun [ which drys the carapace ].
Now someone reading this says - " But they need D3 for strong bones.. where do they get it? FROM THEIR DIET and exposure to sun - it's amazing how little sun it takes to get the required amount! Less than an hour a day.
[ research that ( how much direct sunshine does it take to get the required amount of UVB { don't specify tortoises.. that will confuse the scienceheads } and see what you get ].
THEY ARE NOT BASKERS!!! Outside mine came out in the morning for an hour or so cruising around grazing and then back in the shade! And then the same in the evening right before sunset. See their "forest" .....
A bit more to be said about this .. but this will do for now. Out of site in this pic is a "wand-type" sprinkler mounted on a vertical 6' 2x4 that watered the entire enclosure - like it was raining. Is this good enough at duplicating their "forest" @o.singer1972
Now someone reading this says - " But they need D3 for strong bones.. where do they get it? FROM THEIR DIET and exposure to sun - it's amazing how little sun it takes to get the required amount! Less than an hour a day.
[ research that ( how much direct sunshine does it take to get the required amount of UVB { don't specify tortoises.. that will confuse the scienceheads } and see what you get ].
THEY ARE NOT BASKERS!!! Outside mine came out in the morning for an hour or so cruising around grazing and then back in the shade! And then the same in the evening right before sunset. See their "forest" .....
A bit more to be said about this .. but this will do for now. Out of site in this pic is a "wand-type" sprinkler mounted on a vertical 6' 2x4 that watered the entire enclosure - like it was raining. Is this good enough at duplicating their "forest" @o.singer1972