Reptile & Amphibian Forums

the scales on my redfoots legs seem to be a bit deformed, the are curling up/out as he has been growing. his shell has normal growth (no pyramiding) and he seems otherwise very healthy, is this something I need to worry about and has anyone else seen or know what I am talking about?

Try posting a photo - It is hard to picture your issue.

My guess is that the RF is question is a cherryhead. I too have seen this with some of my hatchlings. The tortoise is completely normal with a nice smooth shell but the front leg scales seem almost too thick and 'scoop' shaped.
Is this correct?
I have a couple that are like that but as they grow the scales do seem to be flattening out.
With hatchlings that I kept from the past two years I have been feeding less Mazuri chow and have been keeping them extra moist and I do not have that problem with them.
I never had this before with the many northern RFs that I have hatched and raised.

yes a male cherryhead approx 1.5 yrs. old. Maybe I'll switch completely to Mazuri, and I assummed it may be humidity related because I am having a hard time keeping his cage humidity high...he's approx 4'5 inches long (I know he's male because when I soak him he always shoots his penis out) in a 4 X 4 plywood cage with cypress mulch as a substrate...I had a humidity shelter for him but it keeps drying out (within 24 hours).

By all means try to increase the humidity. But I would not go 100% with the Mazuri. Rather, just offer it once a week or so.

Right now I am using 25% Zoomed's forrest tort. I would replace it with the Mazuri. I still offer greens(about 50%) , fruit (about 10%-but wants more), veg (about 10-15%) and the occaisional skinned small mouse (monthly at most).

One more question can I breed a cherryhead to a Northern redfoot...I have access to a nice Bolivian female juvie.

As much as possible try and feed a more natural diet. Rely on the commercial diets only as a supplement. They are expensive and not really that great.
You can breed the two different forms together but I wouldn't.
Also, Bolivians are not northern redfoots but a giant form that is completely different from both cherryheads and northerns.