Tort's.

[Dylan]

I need a few species reccomendations and caresheets for 'em. My girlfriend wants a Sulcata but I'm really not digging something that big. I'm looking for something with personality, a decent size ( nothing over 30 or so pounds )and something cute. I've already started the initial pen. It's a 4x4 box.

[Mike Greathouse]

In my opinion, you can't do better then a Redfoot.
They stay at a nice handleable size, they are known as one of the most personable of all of the tortoises, and, unlike Sulcatas, they are not diggers.
Sulcatas have been known to tunnel under homes and crack slabs.

They are very easy to care for - I've been raising them for several years.
If you lean that direction, I can provide you with all of the information you could ever want.


http://myreptileplanet.com/imagehosting/thum_14647309d9a3472b.jpg (http://myreptileplanet.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=386)

http://myreptileplanet.com/imagehosting/thum_14647309da71d78b.jpg (http://myreptileplanet.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=387)

I've got some additional photos posted on my forum if you would like to see them:
http://digitalherper.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=116&t=806

[The Snake Guru]

Redfoots are a real nice choice.

Cherry Heads are another species, that stays smaller yet...would be easily housed in a pen the size you've mentioned.

I think for personality, color, and impressiveness these would be the ones I would be looking at.

~B~

[Dylan]

In my opinion, you can't do better then a Redfoot.
They stay at a nice handleable size, they are known as one of the most personable of all of the tortoises, and, unlike Sulcatas, they are not diggers.
Sulcatas have been known to tunnel under homes and crack slabs.

They are very easy to care for - I've been raising them for several years.
If you lean that direction, I can provide you with all of the information you could ever want.


http://myreptileplanet.com/imagehosting/thum_14647309d9a3472b.jpg (http://myreptileplanet.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=386)

http://myreptileplanet.com/imagehosting/thum_14647309da71d78b.jpg (http://myreptileplanet.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=387)

I've got some additional photos posted on my forum if you would like to see them:
http://digitalherper.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=116&t=806


Redfoots are looking like the way to go. Do you have any links to care sheets? My girlfriend thinks they are cute. I think they will be fun..good times will be had by all.

I also noticed that you breed them? Sounds like we should talk lol.

[WHISTLE69]

Redfoots are looking like the way to go. Do you have any links to care sheets? My girlfriend thinks they are cute. I think they will be fun..good times will be had by all.

I also noticed that you breed them? Sounds like we should talk lol.

nice looking for sure

[Mike Greathouse]

Here's a little impromptu guide that I wrote awhile back. It will cover the basics, and as I stated, I'll be happy to answer any questions that you might have.

Tortoises are very curious creatures and will explore every inch of their living space. I use a relatively Spartan setup for the babies, which provides for easy cleaning.
Some people go the other route and heavily decorate their enclosures with plants, multiple hides, etc. My best advice is to do what is pleasing to your eye, but yet allows for easy cleaning. The tortoises will defecate every day, so ease of cleaning is a major factor for both the health of the tortoise and for odor. My setup for the babies is as follows:

I utilize 36" mortar boxes as an enclosure. They have smooth edges, are opaque, and are easy to clean. These are available in several sizes at most DIY stores such as Home Depot. They have several advantages over conventional cages. They are very inexpensive - about $10.00 to $12.00. They are black which prevents the tortoises from seeing too much outside of the enclosure. As I said, they are very curious and if they see things outside of their enclosure, they will do their best to go and investigate. They have rounded edges, which help to prevent the babies from flipping over as they explore the perimeter. They are lightweight and very easily cleaned. I simply line the bottom with newspaper, which can be changed out daily or as needed. With regular cleaning, you will never notice any odor from the tortoises. I also suggest regular baths. Bath-time is a great adventure and is an excellent exercise for bonding with your tortoise. I try and let them soak for 20 minutes or so at least every other day. They love this playtime and will usually defecate while in the water, which helps keep their enclosure that much cleaner.

Lighting is provided via both UVB lighting and natural sunlight. I try to give them some outside time in the sun every day. The sunlight and fresh air has to be beneficial.
I spend a great deal of time with the babies - I produce a relatively small number of them each year so one on one care is easily provided. The babies receive daily attention in the form of an evening bath / playtime session. I have found this to be very helpful in rearing young tortoises that are comfortable with humans and have outgoing personalities.

They are provided with a hidebox and a shallow water bowl for drinking and soaking. The temps are maintained in the high eighties in the day down to the low eighties in the evening. During the winter months, these will drop a few more degrees, but I try and keep it relatively stable. The ambient humidity is around 60%, but the babies are misted several times a day. I make an extra effort to keep the babies well hydrated, as they are prone to dehydration.


Diet:

I provide a varied diet based on 80% leafy greens and 20% fruit including the following items:

Greens:
Dandelion Greens (an excellent food if available)
Collard Greens
Turnip Greens
Kale
Romaine (if absolutely necessary)

Fruit:
Papaya (perfect calcium to phosphorus ratio)
Banana (w/ peels)
Tomatoes (sparingly - as treats)
Strawberries (sparingly - as treats)
Seedless Grapes (sparingly - as treats)

I shy away from the pre-packaged foods like Mazuri - they tend to have too much animal protein. About twice a week, I'll sprinkle a calcium supplement over the food. Just make sure you use one with no phosphorous. I feed the babies daily, but skip a day now and then with the adults.

Make sure that fresh water is always available. I use a small clay pot bottom for the larger tortoises and deli cup lids for the babies. As they grow, I increase the size of the water bowl. Just make sure that the tortoises can easily crawl in and out and that they are shallow enough that if the tortoise did manage to flip himself, he would not drown in the water bowl. They are also easily cleaned.

I would also recommend checking out the World Chelonian Trust at: http://www.chelonia.org/ There is some excellent information available there.

Here is a link to their Redfoot Caresheet: http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/redfootcare.htm

Again, feel free to ask any questions that you may have.

http://myreptileplanet.com/imagehosting/thum_14647310b13686b4.jpg (http://myreptileplanet.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=392)

[Dylan]

How would the do with 3-4 months of indoor time? It get's really freaking cold here.

[Mike Greathouse]

Even here in Florida, mine are usually inside for a couple of months every winter.
The last couple of years have been pretty mild, but they still come in at night even on warm winter days. The temps have been down in the 50's and 60's at night this week and I've had mine in every night.

If you start with a hatchling, there is really no issue anyway as they would be kept inside anyway. Your 4' x 4' enclosure will do nicely. Once they reach adult size, it's a little more of an issue, but even then, it's not that difficult.

I simply set up a small kiddie pool in the garage on top of a pig blanket. I use either moss or shredded newspaper as a substrate and they do just fine.

[Dylan]

Even here in Florida, mine are usually inside for a couple of months every winter.
The last couple of years have been pretty mild, but they still come in at night even on warm winter days. The temps have been down in the 50's and 60's at night this week and I've had mine in every night.

If you start with a hatchling, there is really no issue anyway as they would be kept inside anyway. Your 4' x 4' enclosure will do nicely. Once they reach adult size, it's a little more of an issue, but even then, it's not that difficult.

I simply set up a small kiddie pool in the garage on top of a pig blanket. I use either moss or shredded newspaper as a substrate and they do just fine.


Sweeet. That was my main worry. I have huge windows in the herp room so they'll still get plenty of sun light.

[mcem]

Redfoots are a good choice!

If I were to get a tortoise right now, I'd probably get some pancake tortoises. I just like the way they look. They seem to be more shy but I don't need something to come running up to me, I have a dog for that! They are easy to care for and don't requie much space.

[Mike Greathouse]

A couple more personality shots!

http://myreptileplanet.com/imagehosting/thum_1464731302ece250.jpg (http://myreptileplanet.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=395)

http://myreptileplanet.com/imagehosting/thum_1464731303ce70c9.jpg (http://myreptileplanet.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=396)

[The Snake Guru]

Say Mike I gotta ask, looking at your pictures....are the Redfoots you have pictures of here the "Cherry Head" Variety? Just seems to me the colors are so vibrant compared to other hatchling redfoots I have seen.

~B~

[Lorelei]

They are adorable! I want one! lol

[Mike Greathouse]

Say Mike I gotta ask, looking at your pictures....are the Redfoots you have pictures of here the "Cherry Head" Variety? Just seems to me the colors are so vibrant compared to other hatchling redfoots I have seen.

~B~

Brad,
No they are not Cherry Heads. Mom's head is almost yellow, but the father is sporting some nice coloration. I get a mixture in every clutch from pale orange to bright red.

[Mike Greathouse]

They are adorable! I want one! lol

Yes, they'll steal your heart in a minute.

[The Snake Guru]

Brad,
No they are not Cherry Heads. Mom's head is almost yellow, but the father is sporting some nice coloration. I get a mixture in every clutch from pale orange to bright red.

Well they certainly are some stunning hatchlings! Thanks for sharing the pics!

Got any shots of the parents?

~B~

[Mike Greathouse]

Well they certainly are some stunning hatchlings! Thanks for sharing the pics!

Got any shots of the parents?

~B~

Of course.

Here's mom - Her name is Tess.


http://myreptileplanet.com/imagehosting/thum_146473138ab78bd3.jpg (http://myreptileplanet.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=405)


Here's Tess digging a nest.

http://myreptileplanet.com/imagehosting/thum_146473138cc3c828.jpg (http://myreptileplanet.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=406)


Here's Zachary digging Tess.

http://myreptileplanet.com/imagehosting/thum_146473139060f050.jpg (http://myreptileplanet.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=407)

[The Snake Guru]

Fantastic man! Those really are some grade A looking RFs!
Thanks for the extra shots!

~B~

[herpivore]

Those are cute, but I'm still holding out for a Sulcata. Aldabras are cool, because they get just enormous & have that black carapace, but Sulcatas are cuter :) I figure I'm gonna wait a couple years yet, because I'd want to have an outside place for my tortoise in the summer, and that probably wouldn't be a good idea, living in town as I do...

Why is it that there are so many tortoises that stay small, and are so much easier to care for (properly), yet Sulcatas are always so inexpensive, not to mention readily available? *sorry, rhetorical question* :$

[Mike Greathouse]

Why is it that there are so many tortoises that stay small, and are so much easier to care for (properly), yet Sulcatas are always so inexpensive, not to mention readily available?

Simple economics.

Most of the smaller tortoise species have clutches that range from three to five eggs. Sulcatas can have clutches that number up to thirty. In warmer climates, it is not unusual for Sulcatas to double-clutch. So one female Sulcata could potentially produce close to sixty babies each year. By contrast, one female Redfoot which lays three or four clutches each year may produce only twenty.

[Nate Dog]

Make sure you feed your RF a source of protein one day a week. They are more of a rainforest species, and they will eat more meat then the other grassland species. I feed mine high calcium greens (dandelions, endive, escarole) 2 days, a fruit day (strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapple), 2 days of greens, a fruit day, and then a protein day with calcium. The main thing to remember with RF is to keep the humidity around 80%.

[Mike Greathouse]

Some of the new kids.

http://digitalherper.com/forum/posted/rf1.jpg

http://digitalherper.com/forum/posted/rf2.jpg

http://digitalherper.com/forum/posted/rf3.jpg

[The Snake Guru]

Well now look at those little stunners!

From your own hatch there Mike?

They look fantastic!

~B~

[Mike Greathouse]

Well now look at those little stunners!

From your own hatch there Mike?

They look fantastic!

~B~

Yep - these are from my female, Tess.
These little buggers are so much fun.

[lorenmps]

those look great

[Torty]

It all depends what you cna care for, and how much space you can provide.

If you cannot provide over 6foot space indoors or outdoors...then i suggest only staying with russians,hermanns, or greeks.

if you cna provide well over 8foot space indoors or outdoors then any tortoise will be fine.
Just so long as you can meet its needs!