Red Foot Tortoises, Leeds

This page has been moved to : Red Foot Tortoise Caresheet

If you are new to keeping reptiles, please read our introductory care sheet :
Reptile Keeping for Beginners.

Caring for your Red Foot Tortoise

We pride ourselves on being voted one of the best Independent Pet Centres in the U.K. by “Which” Magazine so if in the first few days of your Red Foot Tortoise coming home you are concerned about its health or well being, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are open seven days a week and often a quick call to one of shops in Leeds may alleviate any minor problems and put your mind at ease.

Red Foots are a moderately sized tortoise normally growing to around a foot long, though larger specimens have been reported. They are a tropical species and their care requirements are quite different to there meditaranian cousins!

This caresheet is a basic guide to the care of Red Foot Tortoises, though any potential owner would be wise to purchase a more in depth book to ensure they have as much knowledge as possible on their care requirements before purchasing your tortoise.

ESSENTIALS
3 - 4 foot Vivarium (For young tortoises. They will require a larger enclosure when older)
Hide
Orchid Bark Substrate
Shallow, heavy dishes
Fresh Fruit & Vegetables
Low Fat Cat Food
Calcium/D3 and multivitamin supplements
5% UVB Lighting
Heating (Red Spot Lamp or Ceramic Heater controlled by a thermostat... a heat mat is not suitable)

HOUSING
Whilst young Red Foot Tortoises can be kept in a heated Vivarium within a temperature range of 80F to 85F with a hot spot at 90F and a 10-15F drop at night. As the tortoise develops, it can be introduced to an outside pen but only during the warmer days of the summer and then brought inside during the night. Whilst kept in a Vivarium, a deep substrate should be provided as tortoises commonly burrow.

Whilst the tortoise is maintained in a Vivarium, it is vital that it receives the correct UVB lighting to aid vitamin D3 production and utilisation. In their native habitat little light reaches the forest floor so 5% UVB should be used. In the summer, when the temperature permits, the tortoises can be kept outside to benefit from natural sunlight. It is imperative that if you put your tortoise out in natural sunlight that you also provide it with a shaded area. This can be done either with a hide or with clumps of hay or grass.

Being a rainforest species, Red Foots require a rather high humidity and so humidity levels in the vivarium should be maintained at around 70% - 90%. Too low a humidity can results in respiratory problems and inflammation around the eyes.

DIET
Your tortoise will thrive on a diet consisting largely of fruit and leafy vegetables. Tomato, melon a grapes are suitable as well as carrot, and this can be mixed with various leafy green vegetables like Kale, Greens, Brussell Tops, Parsley and Watercress. Do not feed your tortoise Iceberg or Round Lettuce although you can provide "Mixed Lettuce" sold in supermarkets that consist of Chinese Lettuce, Raddico, etc. Lettuce should be viewed as once a week feed as it contains high amounts of water and not as much goodness as the other foods mentioned.

Red Foot Tortoises are opportunistic feeders and in the wild they will also eat meat if it is available and so once a fortnight it is advisable to offer a low fat cat food to your tortoise to provide it with the animal proteins it would have in its natural diet.

Because of the higher protein diet, it is even more important for fresh water to be available at all times and should be provided in a shallow dish, but deep enough so that your tortoise can submerge both its nose and mouth to drink. Be sure your Red Foot Tortoise can climb in and out of the bowl with ease.

Cleaning
Check the tank daily for faeces and remove them immediately. Wash out the food and water dishes daily. Place your Red Foot Tortoise in an escape proof container while cleaning its enclosure. Both the tank and any washable floor coverings should be washed monthly in hot water and mild detergent. Use a Reptile Safe disinfectant to sterilise the tank such as BEA Reptile Disinfectant. Rinse well with hot water and dry thoroughly.

ON RECEIPT OF YOUR TORTOISE
On arrival soak you tortoise in tepid water in a cat litter tray or shallow bowl. Do not use cold tap water as this will be a shock to them. Soak them for approximately 30 minutes and then offer them fresh food. When you receive your tortoise it may have its eyes closed. They may have fallen asleep in transit. When you pick your tortoise up they should open their eyes within a few seconds. If your tortoise is sluggish in opening its eyes then bath them with clean tepid water.

To ensure that your tortoise stays hydrated soak them every other day, as you did on arrival. You will notice that your tortoise will drink and then defecate. Leave them in the tray to soak for approximately 30 minutes. Clean the Vivarium completely at least once a week and remove droppings daily.