Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have recently purchased a redfoot hatchling, and he's doing great! I wondered how often do I feed him?? I have been soaking him twice a day, and feeding him twice a day. He loves hibiscus, but I haven't found any other greens he really likes. I have tried mustard, dandelion, and romaine. He loves frozen veggies, especially the peas. Wonder if I should be getting uncooked veggies instead? He loves all sorts of fruits - especially cantalope. I just am afraid I'm spoiling him too much!

He is outside in a screened in porch all day, I live in Florida so the humidity is 90*-up and it's been 95*-up daily, so I really make sure he has enough water. His home is half in the shade, and half in the sun. I keep him inside at night.

Vegetables are not the ideal diet for a redfoot. It should rather consist of a variety of high calcium : low phosphorus greens like dandelion, chicory, endive, escarole, radicchio and spring mix on occasion and tropical fruit like papaya, fresh figs, cactus fruit, mango and cantaloupe.
Try to make a fine cut up 'salad' with a mix of a number of these items. When it is cut in small pieces your little one cannot pick and choose. The fruit will make everything taste good and he will eat what's good for him!
Good luck,
Gaby

Almost forgot,- feeding every two days (with a very good portion) works very well for me and a number of people I know, including the breeder of my babies. That way they are hungry and not too picky!
Mine have developed very smooth shell growth on that schedule!

Gaby

OH I forgot - you said feed every two days, but outside here in Florida any food he doesn't eat is history in the hot sun - actually by lunchtime it's wilted so he would have nothing at all except the grass planted in his enclosure for one day and a half?

Thanks so much for your info! What is spring mix? - and when you say dandelion, do you mean dandelion greens ? or the weed with yellow flowers? Unfortunately the yellow flowers do not grow in my area, and the dandelion greens are hard to find- but your idea of making a small salad is great! I will try that !!

I keep leopards & stars but recently bought a cherryhead hatchling and I was having trouble to get her to eat any greens. She loves red hibiscus flowers, papaya, melon and mazuri but nothing else. My friend told me to mush up fruits that she likes with the greens such as endive, dandelion, clover, chicory, etc. and sure enough she ate everything.

Since you are in Florida where the weather is nice & warm try growing the greens for your redfoot instead of using grocery store bought vegetables. Check out Turtle Cafe (www.turtlecafe.com) or TurtleStuff.com, they have good seeds for you to grow your own food for your tort.

Thanks so much for your imput - Florida is great however it is difficult to find some of the plant items that my tortoise can have - like dandelion, clover, etc. I have tried to find seeds for clover, but no luck. I will try the turtle cafe site - THANKS!

I try to feed everyday.
One day greens, one day grass and weeds (lawn clippings) and one day of Mazuri. I feed more than they will eat and don't replace it until it is gone. This is with the exception of the Mazuri. I remove that after one day but have figured out how much they can eat in one sitting. Then I throw in the occasional berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries... Sometimes I'll throw in some apple, pears and/or mango and the like.
Then ones a month I'll throw in a pink mouse. This seems to work pretty well for me.
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Ed
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Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care