Want to get a tort

Dani33 · 11-01-03, 01:02 AM

I am pretty sure that I want to get a red foot tort next year. I just wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions for me. Ie. food usually not listed ( Spinach, baby spinach - is it ok), products etc. I've never kept an animal that requires uv, so what are the best bulbs? Do I need two? Should they be the same length of the enclosure? Should I make multiple enclosures according to it's growth or should I just build one that will house it as an adult, what size is best as I have read conflicting iformation. Also, how high should it be if there isn't a top, to prevent escape. I want to get it next spring or summer, so I'll also build it a space in my back yard. I have purchased (don't laugh) Turtles and Tortoises for Dummies. Someone on this site recomended it. Phew, sorry for all the questions! I may still have more when I am finished reading the book. Thanx in advance

Danielle

Dani33 · 11-01-03, 02:56 AM

Oh, and how often much do you feed? Everyday or every other day? Does it make a difference if it's a hatchling or not?

camilogutierrez · 11-03-03, 12:40 PM

yeah ...
i would personaly recommend a red foot
they are not too big and are just beautiful...

you can feed them some greens, fruits once in a while
and some snails or earth worms every month or so....

i have two and i love these guys...
hope you get them and enjoy their company...

camilogutierrez
design+illustration

Linds · 11-03-03, 01:11 PM

I feed mine usually 50% greens and 50% fruits and veggies. Greens include endive, mixed spring greens, collards, dandelion, clover (summer only), watercress, romaine, green leaf lettuce, celery leaves, kholrabi, raddichio, escarole, chinese cabbage, and kale. Kale should not be one of the staple greens as it can cause goiter if fed in excess. Fruits and veggies include prickly pear, pear, papaya, mango, watermelon, peaches, black grapes, plums, strawberries, blueberries, mandarin orange, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber, pineapple, canteloupe, kiwi, dates, figs, green beans, peas, broccoli, mushrooms. The last four are fed very ocassionally for variety. For treats he also gets hibiscus flowers in the summer. Spinach has high oxalic acid levels which bind calcium so should not be fed often. I don't include it all in his diet, but a little won't hurt. Banana can be fed occassionally as a treat, but it is high in phosphorus so it also shouldn't be offered frequently.

I feed everyday, but don't worry if I miss a day here or there. Tortoises in the wild eat litttle bits all the time and walk around. That is why I offer food every day, and it is important to provide a large enclosure for the tortoise to get an adequate amount of excercise.

The enclosure needs to be high enough that the tortoise cannot make contact with the bulb. The type of lighting you use may dictate how tall your enclosure will be. I just use regular incandescent bulbs for my guy, but he does go outside during the summer so he does receive enough UV from that. My enclosure is 18" tall. All of those Repti-sun bulbs/tubes and the like are worthless in my opinion. A full 24 hours under a bulb is the equivalent to like 5 minutes in natural sunlight. Most don't give off UV past more than a foot away, in addition to which if there is any screen in front of it that significantly reduces the amount. Mercury vapour bulbs are a step up, but they are better suited to tortoise pens as I believe tortoises should be at least 30" from them. Redfoots have low UV requirements, they are most active for a short period of time in the morning in the wild and spend the rest of the day under cover.

Tortoises grow very slowly. I would recommend going with a medium sized enclosure instead of its full-sized adult enclosure in its earlier years.

Although tortoises aren't going to climb out of their pens, outdoor enclosures must also keep predators such as raccoons, cats, birds, etc out. Small tortoises especially are at risk for being picked up by birds.

The <a href="http://www.tortoisetrust.org">Tortoise Trust</a> has a lot of great articles and information you may find useful.

Dani33 · 11-03-03, 01:46 PM

Awesome, thanx allot Linds! I actually already wrote allot of the "groceries" from another of your posts! I guess that I could have said that, sorry ; ) The pic of your little guy was actually what started me wanting one. Sooo cute. I have done quite a bit of research already and have seen the site that you referred and have bookmarked it already. I remember, that I asked you on another post about the size of your housing. I'll refer to that as well.

Danielle

Linds · 11-03-03, 06:47 PM

They are are amazing pets! They are super interactive. They learn to recognize their keepers as their caregivers, and being the little pigs they are, will follow you around and greet you everytime they see you walk in the room....lol

Dani33 · 11-03-03, 07:04 PM

Oh yea, how often do you give supplements? How often do you soak? Why is it that you give 50% fruit? Other sources of info say less, just curious. I remember reading somewhere that they do eat allot in the wild. Can't remember where though. Hmmm.

Bartman · 11-03-03, 08:31 PM

if you dont decide to get a red foot, consider a russian tortoise. I have on and there just amazing, calm, and dont mind human company. They just go along with there business with nothing else in mind

Nic · 11-04-03, 08:16 AM

Linds was pretty bang on for the redfoot tortoise menu that I go by. My advice to you is to read. Read a lot, and then read some more. There is all sorts of info about this guys if you dig deep on google. Do not take any one persons advice as 'the way' to do it though. Read multiple articles and decide from the points that seem to resonate in most things. Do not feed to much protein. It is said that these guys will eat carrion in the wild, but I do not feel it is necessary in captivity. It is known that too much protein causes excessive growth and results in pyriamiding. I would say it is better to be safe than sorry.

Good luck, they are a great little creature!

Nic.

Linds · 11-04-03, 06:50 PM

In the wild they eat between 30% and 70% fruit, depending on the time of year. I just even it out since everything in his environment is pretty stable year round, unlike the seasonal changes in the wild.

I supplement cal/d3 3x weekly, vitamin 2x weekly, and offer him cuttlebone as well. In the summer, since he goes outside, he doesn't get frequently supplemented with d3.

ohh_kristina · 11-04-03, 07:14 PM

I, too, am considering diving into the world of tortoises by means of a red foot.

Linds: How big is your indoor enclosure & what size is your red foot? In general, how much do they grow in a year? Thanks for the info!

I have looked up many care sheets, but the growth question has yet to be answered. I still have a few more months of research before I make my purchase.

Sorry for hi-jacking your thread Dani - I didn't want to start another one

Dani33 · 11-04-03, 11:11 PM

No probs Kristina! That's what these forums are for. I actually asked Linds on a previous thread and her enclosure is 4'x2'x18". This is what I am going to follow for my first enclosure. I am not sure about the entire enclosure yet. I also have a bp and would like to build something for him as well. I don't want to buy a red foot until next spring/summer. So I just want to spend the next few months researching. I am now interested in thier growth as well.