Sorry to hear you've been given little advice. I don't keep redfoots although I would love to and may one day. I researched their needs for months before deciding that they were simply too big for the space I have available at the moment. Building an insulated heated outdoor shed will have to wait for a while.
The best source of information I found (and it tied in with knowledge I carried over from other reps/torts/sources/experience) was a book called The Redfoot Manual by Mike Pingleton published in 2009.
There are other people on this forum who have kept/bred/reared the species so I'm sure they will guide you as well.
I have visited friends who keep redfoots and they do get extremely tame but generally they are best left to come to you rather than being picked up. Any time a tort is lifted up it will not be at its happiest and I'm puzzled why a genuine reptile shop would advise handling.

 

Himudity is the key. Keep the area warm and damp. Offer (as you are) drinking water. Food should not include sweet things (no grapes!). Pet shop food can be soaked and mixed with chopped weeds and or veg such as carrot etc. Add vitamins and calcium.

 

Do you mean pellets by pet shop food? sorry but a new owner might not know that and are they all ok for redfoots or are some better than others and as with the other torts do you restrict the amount you feed. I've never kept redfoots so hope you don't mind me asking.

 

I was thinking in terms of weaning off the pellets (that it is eating) onto a more natural diet. The best way of introducing new foods is to mix with favourites.

 

Thank you for the advice so far. I think I may need to get a humidifier just so I can be sure the humidity is adequate. Ive been out dandelion picking today so I will use these. We also have bought Romaine Lettuce to mix with the food. We are going to grow Poppys for her too. Am I right in thinking if she hasn't eaten the food in an hour I should take it out and give her another lot in the evening? (Twice a day feeding?)

The pet shop food we have is called Tortoise food and it has lots of ingredients listed. It looks like rabbit food, some hay, pellets and dried chunks!!

I just want to get together a feeding schedule so no one accidently feeds her the wrong thing!

 

Thank you for the advice so far. I think I may need to get a humidifier just so I can be sure the humidity is adequate. Ive been out dandelion picking today so I will use these. We also have bought Romaine Lettuce to mix with the food. We are going to grow Poppys for her too. Am I right in thinking if she hasn't eaten the food in an hour I should take it out and give her another lot in the evening? (Twice a day feeding?)

The pet shop food we have is called Tortoise food and it has lots of ingredients listed. It looks like rabbit food, some hay, pellets and dried chunks!!

I just want to get together a feeding schedule so no one accidently feeds her the wrong thing!

Have I heard somewhere that the poppy is not a good food. Certainly I have always uprooted any in my redfoot enclosure.

 

I read it here:

How to care for a red-footed tortoise -How to Care for a Tortoise

It seems that every website says something different. I tried her with roses (the flower not the chocolates) and she didn't pay any attention to them. Dandelions are definitely safe? I'm trying to find easy to grow plants/ flowers and dandelions are certainly easy to grow in our garden!

 

Poppys off the list then! At least they will look nice in the garden! On the plus side she has just enjoyed a nice leaf of Romaine lettuce :2thumb:

 

And yes, dandelions are excellent- both flower and leaf. :2thumb:

 

So, I've been researching on and off all day. We are on holiday next week so I have to leave little Mo with an instruction sheet :gasp:

Here's my plan for a feeding schedule and so far I think all are safe??

A base diet of some of:
Dandelion leaves, Romaine lettuce (or other lettuce NOT Iceburg), Spring greens, Grape leaves and occasionally Kale.

Then add in:

MONDAY: Vegetables
Squash, Pumpkin, Carrots, Cabbage, Chicory, Mushrooms, Cooked sweet potato

TUESDAY: Shop tortoise food and calcium supplement

WEDNESDAY: Fruit
Apple (no pips), Strawberries, Blackberries, Melon, Plum, Pears, Grapes (occasionally)

THURSDAY: Flowers
Dandelion, Bittercress, Stinging nettles

FRIDAY: Protein
Rehydrated cat food, Cooked chicken, hardboiled egg, Butter worms

SATURDAY: Calcium
Base diet + calcium

SUNDAY: No food day

This is based on what I've found to be safe on most websites and also what we have in our garden or nearby and what we eat and buy from Sainsburys!

Thank you all for your help and patience. :notworthy:

Now to look for a humidifier......

 

As boxman says keep off the fruit can cause gut problems. Also we have never fed meat the protein they need can be achived by high protein veg such as peas and beans. The occasional once a week pellet as well.
I would add calcium and vits to evry meal as well. You can go as low as feeding 3/4 times a week this helps keep them nice and smooth

 

If I get a cuttle bone that should provide enough calcium? Its not always me that feeds her and I wouldn't want someone to give her too much

 

It's nearly impossible to give too much calcium I have been told. A cuttle bone in the enclosure would be fine as she can take a bite as and when she pleases.

 

As was suggested to me try lime flour if the cuttlefish is not liked you can get it from equine store's I bought a tub and I reckon it may just last him 50 years lol


I have seen a tortoise which had had too much calcium very odd to see . It would go through a cuttlefish bone in a week very rare problem I was told. The people on here will give you the best advice and enjoy your new pal
put some pic's up :2thumb:

 

Here is the list I use for my redfoot. This has come from Years of asking questions and my own extensive research!
Most of which has come directly from breeders whose reds are strong healthy and have smooth shell growth with no evidence of pyramiding and/or MBD!

Also, redfoots being tropical torts should have fruit in their diet. Those who say they don't are very much mistaken!

Hope this helps:

Ellie food list!

Greens

Turnip greens
Dandelion greens and flowers
Collard greens
Bag Spring Mix
Kale
Chicory
Endive
Escarole
Radicchio
Chickweed
Henbit
Grape leaves
Hibiscus leaves and flowers
Mulberry leaves
Purslane Leaf
plantain
Opuntia cactus pads (spines removed) Red
and Green leaf lettuce and romaine lettuce

Vegetables

Yellow squash
Courgette
Pumpkin
Steamed sweet potato
Carrots
Mushrooms
Bell pepper

Fruits

Any fruits and berries.
Banana and tomato should be kept to a minimum.
No citrus fruits.

Plants & Weeds

Hibiscus, Opuntia, Hosta, Sedum, Ice Plant, Spider plant, Prickly Pear, Dandelion, Plantain, Clover, Mallow, Rose, Cornflowers, Grape leaves, Forsythia, Nasturtiums, Pre Alpin

Protein

Pinkie mice (thawed)
Live pill bugs, butter worms, meal worms, super worms
Slugs
Worms


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk