Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

My redfoot today woke up with one eye pretty watery. He is relatively new to us and has not been very active.

Our temp is around 87 on the warm side and about 75 on the cool. The humidity is fine throughout and the hides are over 80%.

He is also breathing pretty heavy. His head bobs up and down.

Just wondering if anyone has seen the same thing. Any advice?

Thanks

Hi steiner,

Watery eyes are usualy from low humidity. Mine suffered from that too but is fine after i got the humidity up.

You say he is not very active? If you are new to tortoises maybe you are not familiar with their ways? Redfoots like a darker enclosure, they dont like lots of bright light, so this may be why he is not too active. also if he is young, they tend to hide alot, this is very natural. If he is new to his home it may take a few weeks for him to feel comfortable. give him some time to come around. I would be nervous if he is lethargic as opposed to not active. When he eats or when he walks around is he bright and active or does he hang his head and move slow?
As for the breathing...Keep in mind that a tortoises lungs are in a shell, so when they breath their head and legs move a little.

hope this helps

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, this is my first tortoise. I have researced a ton and heard about behavior, but you truly don't know until you have one for a while and see it yourself.

I have been working on the humidity as of late and I have a cover on the enclosure and Spag Moss in the hide. The humidity is good now so I hope to see an improvement. He is active in terms of movement when out. He does go around and search with his head out and moving around. I am feeling better about his habits and I know the eating will come around. According to my meters the Heat is 86-87 in the hide and 76 in the far cool side. Humidity is 90% in the hide. I hope this will do the trick.

Thanks!

Mitch,

You should try to bring the low temp up to 80F - 82F. They seem to eat better if always kept warm, even at night.

Russ

Thanks,

The last few days have been great. I have a ceramic heat emitter...(150 watt), and it is great for that spot and the hide...it doesn't seem to get me to 80 on the other side.

It was just 6 degrees here in Chicago so that doesn't help much either. I actually just bought a small space heater and put it near the enclosure to help aid my heating bills and the tort table. It is around 79 right now...and he was seen eating well today and moving around pretty well. The watery eyes seem gone for now.

Heat and Humidity...that is the trick Thanks