To create a happy environment for your red foot tortoise, furnish the pen with lots of edible plants. Some of the options are yarrow, aloe, cucumber, cow parsley, comfrey, dahlia, English daisy, hibiscus, velvet grass, sweet potato, watercress, petunia, blackberry, chickweed, nettle, field pansy, oregano, dandelion greens and mustard greens. Make sure your tortoise gets enough calcium to avoid shell complications.Unlike some other species, red foot tortoises are omnivores, meaning they also eat animals. In nature, this usually means bugs, slugs, ants, termites, bees, butterflies, beetles, snails or worms, but can be carrion of larger dead animals such as snakes, lizards, birds or even deer carcasses. They only need a little animal protein and it is important not to overfeed them on that part of their diet. Some owners recommend a little moistened low fat cat food or some lean meat, if no bugs are available. An ounce (or 25 gram) every week to two weeks should be sufficient, but without any meat component, your red foot tortoises will develope a protein deficiency. Signs of this include difficulty in movement and apparent neurological complications.
In general, with most types of tortoises, it is recommended that fruit should not comprise too large a component of the diet. It should only be given a few times a week as a treat. The digestive tracts of this species, however, seems better adapted to the rich carbohydrate intake of sweet fruit, than is the case with most other tortoises. In nature, fallen, overripe fruit comprises up to 70 percent of their diet. Along with this adaptation though, comes the higher risk of dehydration. For this reason, their need for water and humidity must be accommodated. During other seasons, the intake switches to flowers and leaves. Do not overfeed them on cabbage as this can damage the thyroid.
The habitat of the red food tortoise should contain a small wading pool or mud pool, if outside or a shallow water dish they can immerse themselves in, if kept inside.
To close on a slightly trivial note, seven red foot tortoises named Alexandra, Moses, Aldous, Wilhelmina, Quinn, Esme and Molly respectively were used in a research programme by Dr Anna Wilkinson of the University of Lincoln to study contagious yawning. One of them, Alexandra, was taught to yawn on command. The resultant thesis, entitled ‘No Evidence of Contagious Yawning in the Red-Footed Tortoise’ won an Ig Nobel award for physiology. The Ig Nobels were introduced as a parody to the more prestigious Nobel Awards for excellence.
The red foot tortoise is a beautiful and unique species of reptiles. This South American tortoise is medium sized. It is considered to be a very close relative of the yellow footed tortoise. This tortoise is usually found in forest areas, dry plateaus and grass lands. It loves the rain and the muddy places. This is the reason why it is fond of the rain forest environment. The redfoot tortoises are omnivorous. Hence, they love to eat leaves, green vegetables and fruits that are rich in iron and calcium. Spinach is one such food that they love the most. They also feed on flowers. However, it is essential not to over feed them with animal protein. A small serving of low fat cat food or lean meat would be enough for a week or two. Calcium and vitamin D3 supplements can also be fed to them. They must be provided with sufficient amount of clean and fresh water daily. The redfoot tortoises are able to generate eggs throughout the year, with the female laying 3 to 5 eggs per season.
When the redfoot tortoises are kept in indoor enclosures, they need a large space. A substrate such as cypress bark can be used. To provide these tortoises with the necessary amount of heat and light, a UVA or UVB is essential indoors and the enclosure can be heated with a basking spot of 95 F (35 degrees C) and a gradient of about 80 to 90 F (27 to 32 degrees C). However, the night time temperatures can be dropped to about 75 F (24 degrees C). The young redfoot tortoises can be enclosed in an aquarium. Nevertheless, the adult tortoises need a huge space. This species can be enclosed outdoors, too. But, their outdoor enclosure must be secure and built in such a way that they are not able to escape from it. Vegetation must be provided to them in such an enclosure. It is very important that these tortoises are provided with a moist shady place since these tortoises are prone to suffering in dry conditions. The redfoot tortoises are said to undergo an ontogenic color change. The carapaces of the young tortoises are either pale yellow or horn ground in color. However, as these tortoises mature, their carapaces start to develop dark brown or black patches. The carapaces of the adults are either dark brown or blackish brown in color. Each of their lateral and their center scutes has a pale yellow aureole in the middle.
The redfoot tortoises prove to be very friendly, active and social as pets. However, their living conditions must be maintained well. A proper and very good care should be taken of them. And, they should be provided with a nutritious and good diet on time. Thus, the redfoot tortoise is a beautiful species that displays very interesting behaviors.
That should illustrate just how versatile the red foot tortoise can be as a pet.