There are many ways you can keep your tortoises but the main things to consider when picking an enclosure are space and humidity requirements.
Red footed tortoises need space. Exercise is needed for a good overall health.
Humidity for red foot tortoises should be kept at 60-80% which is harder to keep in a tank or open enclosure. The best way to establish this is by using a plastic bin with holes drilled throughout and PVC racks. Aquariums may be used but they are harder to maintain humidity in, unless you cover the majority of the lid with plastic wrap or some type of blocking agent. Using a plastic bin is the cheapest alternative and do work but get a proper bin that will not melt from heat . PVC's for reptiles are amazing for keeping red foots. For those who do not know what we mean, here is pictures of a PVC enclosures. If you are looking to purchase one of these, please contact us and we can connect you with a local supplier.
Red footed tortoises need space. Exercise is needed for a good overall health.
Humidity for red foot tortoises should be kept at 60-80% which is harder to keep in a tank or open enclosure. The best way to establish this is by using a plastic bin with holes drilled throughout and PVC racks. Aquariums may be used but they are harder to maintain humidity in, unless you cover the majority of the lid with plastic wrap or some type of blocking agent. Using a plastic bin is the cheapest alternative and do work but get a proper bin that will not melt from heat . PVC's for reptiles are amazing for keeping red foots. For those who do not know what we mean, here is pictures of a PVC enclosures. If you are looking to purchase one of these, please contact us and we can connect you with a local supplier.
Your Redfoot enclosures, whether indoor or outdoor, should mimic their natural habitat and have 60-75% of the pen area covered in plants. Plastic ones work best for indoor pens because they don’t get eaten.
NATURAL HABITAT
When it comes to the Redfoot tortoise one of the biggest mistakes people have come to believe is they live in open savannah areas in the wild. In fact they live in the tropical rain forests and are considered forest tortoises
We are going to be pointing out some basic, but important topographic and geologic Red foot facts, that will help you create the right indoor and outdoor enclosures and diet. We are going to use Guyana as an example which is one of the Red foot origins. As you can see from the image below, it is roughly 85% dense Tropical forest.
Savannah areas make up about 10-15% of the country. With 85% of the country of Guyana covered in dense tropical forest where do you think 85% or more of all the wild Red foots tortoises live? You got it – in dense tropical forest.If you look at the topography of all the countries where the Redfoot tortoise is a native species, they all have 70+% of the country covered in dense tropical forest.
Another important fact to consider is the narrow temperature band in all these countries where a 70-90 degree range over the year is typical, with a humidity range virtually the same at 70-90%.
Another important fact is the color of the Redfoot carapace. It’s navy, dark brown or almost black. So, with a narrow temperature range and a very dark carapace what need would the Redfoot tortoise have to bask in the sun like a Russian or Greek? The dark carapace would warm them up very quickly (because dark colors absorb heat) as well as overheat them just as quickly in bright sunshine.
All of the arid species of tortoises who live in areas with very little ground cover, lots of sunshine, and a wide temperature range have lighter colored carapaces. It’s because light colors reflect heat.
Redfoot tortoises live their entire life where the need to warm up to a “normal operating temperature” isn’t necessary because it doesn’t get cool enough to lower their internal temperature where it would impede normal operation.
Another important fact to consider is the narrow temperature band in all these countries where a 70-90 degree range over the year is typical, with a humidity range virtually the same at 70-90%.
Another important fact is the color of the Redfoot carapace. It’s navy, dark brown or almost black. So, with a narrow temperature range and a very dark carapace what need would the Redfoot tortoise have to bask in the sun like a Russian or Greek? The dark carapace would warm them up very quickly (because dark colors absorb heat) as well as overheat them just as quickly in bright sunshine.
All of the arid species of tortoises who live in areas with very little ground cover, lots of sunshine, and a wide temperature range have lighter colored carapaces. It’s because light colors reflect heat.
Redfoot tortoises live their entire life where the need to warm up to a “normal operating temperature” isn’t necessary because it doesn’t get cool enough to lower their internal temperature where it would impede normal operation.
Types of Setups
Indoor and outdoor Redfoot tortoise enclosures setting up a pen like one a Russian, Greek, or Hermann’s would thrive in (open, lots of sunshine, and a hide) is not what these tortoises need and is all too often what I see.In that type of setup keeping the temperature between 70 and 90 degrees let alone the humidity between 70 and 90% is extremely difficult unless you soak it down 5-6 times a day.
Your Redfoot enclosures, whether indoor or outdoor, should mimic their natural habitat and have 60-75% of the pen area covered in plants. Plastic ones work best for indoor pens because they don’t get eaten.
Below you will find images of different tortoise set ups which are suitable for red foots. This includes indoor and outdoor enclosures. Hopefully this will give you an idea of how to prepare a setup for a red foot tortoise.
Your Redfoot enclosures, whether indoor or outdoor, should mimic their natural habitat and have 60-75% of the pen area covered in plants. Plastic ones work best for indoor pens because they don’t get eaten.
Below you will find images of different tortoise set ups which are suitable for red foots. This includes indoor and outdoor enclosures. Hopefully this will give you an idea of how to prepare a setup for a red foot tortoise.