Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just bought a baby red foot who was nice and active at the show but has become really shy once I got him home. He is eating well enough but always hides when anyone comes near and stays in his shell when handled. Any tips on how I can get him to be more calm, less scared, more active? Maybe a favorite food or change his set up. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Jason

I moved him to an outside enclosure, a big plastic tub with holes for drainage, filled it with mulch and soil to dig in and he deffinately has improved. still a little reclusive but not as scared.
Jason

Be careful keeping him in the tub outside. I know you drilled drainage holes, but make sure it won't overheat in there. The tub may not be big enough to provide a temp gradient, especially if kept in direct sun all day. The inside will definitely overheat and cook the little guy inside. I definitely recommend covering a third to half of the tub to provide a shady spot, or better yet, keep it in an area that may only get dappled sunlight. Others may suggest otherwise, but I would not keep it in a tub outside unless the tub is like six to eight feet long. Also, I also recommend a screen top to prevent predators from stealing the baby tort.

Just a suggestion, but your baby may have actually been calm and acclimating well to your enclosure, and not pacing around or being as active like at the show when it may have been more distressed. I noticed you said its moving around again since moved by you from one enclosure to the next. This could be a sign its not as comfortable, and may stop moving about when its setlled in. My baby redfoot basically stays under its hide log til feeding time. My baby yellow foot stays put as well, but not under the log. It likes it cooler and the log is over the warm end of the cage. They are not out cruising all day by any means.

yeah i got the perfect forest edge spot, dappled sunlight and all with a damp hide, and i got a thermometer, no guessing. Incidently the weather here in south east Pennsylvania is unseasonably cold, Im down with the flu and little guy is back inside most of the time cause we barely breaking 75 here. Thanks for the response
Jason

I posted similar stuff on here 7 years ago when my red-foot was a baby. THey hide most of the time for the first year or two, then they definitely get more active. Mine now is always out if people are around.

thanks for the response. thats good to hear. I had read that somewhere, but you find so much conflicting info, you never know what to believe.
Jason