Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have two red foots. they are both 4 years old. I was wondering when I need to worry about my female needing to lay eggs.

also, lately i have been noticing both of them appear to be quite dry. the shells seem to be dry expecially between the spots. and the beautiful red scales that used to cover thier front legs seem to be drying up or falling off.

i give them menditory baths once a week even though they dont seem to like it. and I try to keep humidity high but it doesnt seem to help.

any suggestions?

Sounds like your making Tortoise jerky. You either need to up the humidity and keep it up, or find some type of container to use as a humid hide. Soaking is a husbandry fallacy, as it really doesn't serve any purpose for a healthy animal. It also may make a chronically dehydrated animal worse. You have to be really careful as chronic dehydration ( Which I think your experiencing ) can/will lead to Kidney and Renal failure. Tortoises in general may start to cycle at 5 years, but may take up to 10 or more. You also have to be sure you have them on a substrate they recognize as something they can lay eggs in. If you don't, you run the risk of reproductive complications, which is another topic altogether

Soaking helps dehydrated tortoises.One must soak the tort. in shallow water so it will want to drink not swim.They can take water in through the cloaca.Soaking is a standard back up support for new import tortoises.It is also recomended before and after shipping.If a torts.eyes look sunkin in,soaking for long periods is recomended.Soaking in a 50/50 water and Gatoraid is a very good way to turn around a dehydrater tort.DEHYDRATION KILLS QUICKLY. Vic