Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, this is the first time I have posted a message. I just got a new cherryhead redfooted tortoise (she is about a year old). I am not sure if she is acting normal, this is my first tortoise. I have a uvb light on her during daylight hours and a 75 watt basking light on 24 hours a day. I live in RI so it is a bit cold here this time of year. But she is not eating too much and she spends almost all day sleeping. She is even burrowing in under the mulch, directly under the basking light. I don't know if this is normal, or if she is too cold. The temp gets to about 90 aroung the light and around 75-80 on the other side of the tank. any suggestions or comments?
Thanks!

I have a Cherryhead too. They have to have a LOT of humidity. Also no light at night. Get a heat emitter, and leave that on 24/7. Go to Retfoots.com or RedfootTortoise.com You will get all the info. that you need. They don't need a basking light. One side should be darker..just a UVB and the other side should have the heat emitter. They come from warm, tropical, humid climate. Go to those sites, and they will help you. Good luck

Thanks so much!
I checked out both of those websites and I got some good ideas from both of them. I think I am not providing enough humidity, so I'm going to do something about that. Do heat emitters come in wattage, just like basking lights? what do you recommend for a yearling in terms of amount of heat?

Terryo is right on about the humidity issue. However, I have known redfoots to enjoy basking on occasion, just so long as they have a place to hide, so I wouldn't necessarily remove the basking light. This lack of a hiding spot could be the other reason he is burrowing. Ensure proper humidity, however, by use of a small watering hole (the seat of a pot filled half way is usually fine). Ambient humidity doesn't seem to be as important as the existence of such a pool, as redfoots do love to soak. Also keep in mind that hatchlings, yearlings, and juveniles in general tend to hide a great deal, as such is natural for them in the wild (think about all of the predators running about on the northern pampas/silva fringe).

T.G.