return to main index

  mobile - desktop
follow us on facebook follow us on twitter follow us on YouTube link to us on LinkedIn
 
Click here for LLL Reptile & Supply
Mice, Rats, Rabbits, Chicks, Quail
Available Now at RodentPro.com!
Locate a business by name: click to list your business
search the classifieds. buy an account
events by zip code list an event
Search the forums             Search in:
News & Events: Herp Photo of the Day: False Coral Snake . . . . . . . . . .  Herp Photo of the Day: Bearded Dragon . . . . . . . . . .  Greater Cincinnati Herp Society Meeting - Apr 02, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Calusa Herp Society Meeting - Apr 04, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Southwestern Herp Society Meeting - Apr 06, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Hamburg Reptile Show - Apr. 13, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  St. Louis Herpetological Society - Apr 14, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  San Diego Herp Society Meeting - Apr 16, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Suncoast Herp Society Meeting - Apr 20, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  DFW Herp Society Meeting - Apr 20, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Colorado Herp Society Meeting - Apr 20, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Chicago Herpetological Society Meeting - Apr 21, 2024 . . . . . . . . . . 
Join USARK - Fight for your rights!
full banner - advertise here .50¢/1000 views
Layne Labs - Natural Diets for Pets & Wildlife
pool banner - $50 year

RE: baby red foot is getting soft..

[ Login ] [ User Prefs ] [ Search Forums ] [ Back to Main Page ] [ Back to Red & Yellow Foot Tortoises ] [ Reply To This Message ]
[ Register to Post ]

Posted by: tglazie at Thu Feb 28 01:04:36 2008  [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by tglazie ]  
   

Yes, calcium is most critical during the early stages of a tortoise's life. Redfoots are no exception. Make calcium freely available. With hatchlings, I usually leave cuttlebone about so that they may gnaw on it at will. Also, supplement their food with it every other meal. I usually sneak a vitamin supply along with calcium once per week in something attractive, like banana or soaked dry catfood. Redfoots don't eat hay or grass, as they don't have the intestinal fortitude to digest the massive amounts of silica. They will generally eat dandelion leaves, which are typically rich in calcium. Apricot is also naturally rich in calcium. I've also noticed redfoots enjoy prickly pear pads (spineless, ofcourse). My adults pull pads right from the plants in their enclosure. For hatchlings, puree the stuff with some apricot for a sweet, calcium rich treat, then supplement the treat with some RepCal. However, nothing is better at providing calcium than D3 from full spectrum lighting or sunlight. All of these combined should do the trick, lest it's too late.

T.G.


   

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Hide Replies ]

  • You Are HereRE: baby red foot is getting soft.. - tglazie, Thu Feb 28 01:04:36 2008

>> Next topic:  Male Redfoot? - amtzzero, Mon Mar 10 19:42:39 2008
<< Previous topic:  baby red foot is getting soft.. - weebeasties, Wed Feb 27 18:54:12 2008