Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is our new addition (if I did it right uploading) and the first juvenile RF we have had. We have had experience with a much older female whom since has passed. Any help or ideas would be welcomed. We presently have him/her set up in a rectangular aquarium, open top, sides covered so won't climb, Reptisun 8.0 bulb and 100 Watt infrared heat bulb. Cypress bark and sphagnum moss, water dish with 1 cm water, some rocks (1 under basking area and one near the water entrance). 2 Mondo grass plants with plain topsoil, buried and covered over with the cypress as well, and of course a hiding location. It seems to be eating quite well, it is only about 4 weeks old and the breeder told us he was feeding every second day and of course the typcial fruits, veggies and added Calcium. He mentioned no vitamin supplements and also provided a list of good and bad foods.

Congratulations to your new addition! Redfoots are wonderful, very personable pets,- but I guess you know that already!
You might want to consider lowering the waterlevel of the bathing dish. I never put it higher than 5 mm for at least the first year.
To test, if the waterlevel is low enough, you can briefly put your hatchling into the waterdish upside down. With pulled in head his nostrils should be above water level, so if he flipps over he won't drown, even when he tires of stretching his head upwards. So at that size that won't be much higher than 5 mm.
Also,- make sure, that the walls of the bathdish are not much higher than that, so flipping over with climbing in and out of the bathdish won't be an issue. I used the cover of a tupperware container, so they were actually just walking through and no climbing was necessary. Unfortunately one finds posts of hatchlings drowned in their bathdishes all the time...
Good luck with your new baby,
Gaby

Thanks. The water level is okay, I took the advise and tried to make sure if he/she gets tipped over won't drown. It is probably only about 5 mm, 1cm was a guess! I too am using just a lid right now so in and out work well. For that matter his/her food is only on a lid too for easy access at moment.
Your set up is nice! Thanks again, Sheri.

Hi, I was wondering about your 'open top' enclouser...I keep my redfoot 'Sage' at a high humidity level, about 60% all the time..Redfoots need higher humidity than other tortoises..Also to keep your baby from stressing out, put a 4 to 6 inch border around the bottom of the glass tank..This will stop your baby from looking out and make it feel more secure..Wallpaper border works great, and looks attractive too. Also calcium supplements are very important.I aquired Sage at 6wks of age, he is now 6 months old and 100 grams...Best of luck..Shawne

Thanks for the reply. I mentioned in my post the aquarium is covered around so that it will prevent climbing, I am using aquarium paper. As well I am not supplementing with liquid vitamins but I am supplementing with Calcium as I so noted.
The open tank is to allow ventilation which I understand is as important as the high humidity which I have also been maintaining. I keep the humidity high with misting system, and a temperature gradient with warm to little cooler area for his/her preference. The moss and cypress help wonderfully to maintain some moisture without the soggy mess.
Again thanks for the reply but perhaps you didn't read my message carefully and I just wanted to let you know I have those issues under control. Sheri

what nice, bright coloration, too! good luck in his/her upbringing! i think a lot of people, though, feed their hatchlings daily, based on what i've read, and they cut back as they grow older.

Thanks. I have began to feed him/her each day, I noticed it was looking for food and trying to graze on the mondo grass, not big deal but it was not being overly successful. Eats like a trooper though, loves everything so far, doesn't seem picky.

Peabody is 2 years old now and has never skipped a meal!
They become so personable too. Mine already follows me
when I am working in his enclosure.

Linda

Thanks, we call this guy or gal Fire and it seems quite interested in whatever I am doing.
Yours is nice too. Sheri