Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It's been a while since I posted. I hope everyone is doing
fine!

I have just upgraded Peabody's enclosure to a larger size
as he is 7" shell already. I purchased a large tortoise
tub from a reptile show in October.

Anyway, my question to you is: Do you keep your Redfoots
at a wide range of temps and do you utilize an open top
enclosure? With the larger tub there are many different
temp zones. For instance his hide is at the far end of
the tub and is cooler because it is the furthest away
from the lights. Under the lights is about 90 degrees but
then it cools as it spreads out.

I do run a room heater during the night to keep the room
73-75 degrees.

What do you think, is this OK or should I be concerned that
the temps are not a pretty constant 80 degress temp ambient?

Sorry for going on and on....it's early!

Linda

>>Anyway, my question to you is: Do you keep your Redfoots
>>at a wide range of temps and do you utilize an open top
>>enclosure? With the larger tub there are many different
>>temp zones. For instance his hide is at the far end of
>>the tub and is cooler because it is the furthest away
>>from the lights. Under the lights is about 90 degrees but
>>then it cools as it spreads out.
>>
>>I do run a room heater during the night to keep the room
>>73-75 degrees.

Take this for what it's worth because I don't have a red foot but what you are describing is the way I keep my indoor box turtles and basically the way I keep my outdoor sulcata tortoise. The tortoise being outside of course can't have an open topped enclosure but the heating set up is basically the same as it is for the box turtles.

I have the heat sources set up so that there are different temperatures for them to choose & they do use all the different temps at different times of the day & night as they please.

I'm a big believer in letting them decide what temp they need at any given moment because they are the ones living in those shells and I can't feel what they need.
-----
PHRatz

I believe the same way but I do remember someone saying
they should be kept at a constant 80 degree temp ambient.
I also remember someone saying not to let night temps get
below 75 degrees. His temps can get down to 68-70 degrees
at night.

Maybe I am confusing all this with a hatchling versus
a juvenile or adult. Peabody is 3 years old so a hatchling
he is not.

Thanks
Linda

I keep forgetting that other people have hatchlings
:::bad ratz::: lol
You may be right, you could be confusing hatchling info with info for older torts. I do know that hatchling box turtle care differs from that of adults but all my turtles are adults, the sulcata I suppose would be considered a subadult since she's only half grown.
I keep forgetting she's only have grown because she's so heavy I can't even pick her up by myself LOL!
Still so far we've kept the turtle heating set up this way for almost 6 years, the sulcata this way for 3 & 1/2 & they never have any problems when they see the vet once a year or so.
Good luck with your red foot.
-----
PHRatz

my 2 year old redfoot lives in a rugged plastic sandbox that has a wooden roof on one end for hiding/shade and a wooden rack overhead for his light. the top stays open. to that roof is attached a ceramic heat emitter pointing diagonally downward into the sandbox, and directly underneath that, it is nearly 90 degress, but the temperatures drops radiating outward (the coolest area being the the mid to low 70s). i've seen him resting and napping in all areas of the sandbox, and i think that it's because he knows best what temperature he needs. i'm not an expert by any means but i think that what you have right now sounds about right, too.