Five bajillion questions

[Lunartwist]

So I'm getting a female Redfooted tortoise tomorrow, and  I just had a few last-minute questions.

1. I have a opaque, plastic storage container for her habitat. Would it melt with a heating pad? The heating pad is one made for up to 65 gallons, so its fairly large.

2. I keep hearing back and forth on the UVB issue for Redfoots. Some say since they live in the shade most of the time, they're fine with just supplemental vitamin D3 in their diet, and don't need a UVB bulb. Other sources say they need as much UVB as a typical tropical reptile, and should be provided with a tropical output UVB bulb. Which is true?

3. If I put a UVB bulb in one of those aquarium hoods, would the plastic shielding that protects the bulb from water prohibit penetration of UV rays? Would the bulb be fine without the plastic if it does?

4. I've already laid out a place in my room for her to roam, but I wanted to know, are they big "poopers"? Would the mess the carpet? if I soak and let them eliminate before their roam, would they eliminate again later the same day?

5. Since I'm getting one from my work (yes, boo-hiss petstore XD), I noticed they have quite the lower appetite as compared to Russian Tortoises. Is this normal?

6. Since they don't go through a hibernation, do they still slow down during the winter? Should I lower temperatures in the winter so they do slow down?

7. I've researched and found an over-the-counter parasite medicine sold on a few Tortoise/Turtle sales sites called Panacur. Is this recommend and safe? If not, which medication should I look for?

8. Do females lay unfertilized eggs like some lizards do? Do they have big problems with egg binding?

...That's all I can think of for now. I'll probably think of more sometime later. I know I'm totally going to get her, and then be freaking out over every little thing that she does like some overprotective parent, hahaha. XD

[Upstart68]

You need to get a book on redfoots and read it twice before even thinking of getting one ..Try Redfoots and Yellowfoots; The Natural History, Captive Care, and Breeding of 'Chelonoidis carbonaria' and 'Chelonoidis denticulata' by Amanda Ebenhack  have your store manager order it for you.
    
    Yes they are cute and yes they are great pets but the quality of life for them is most important. Now if you are worried about big poops I am guessing shes an adult or near to it. Unless she is a newborn you should have a far larger enclosure, With the right enclosure you can use that heating pad. Poops are big sure but paper towels work fine with a little soap and water. Also you don't want her on shag (If people still use shag carpeting) or any plush deep carpeting shes going to get caught up in the threads or ingest it out of curiosity. I let my girl roam indoors till the weather starts getting bad then the floor temp needs to be just as warm for her or she goes into her winter pen.

     Do not lower her winter temps no reason shes from south America.  As to whether or not you need to have your UVB bulb ,, why not even if it is found its not needed at a later date you still gave her access to one and it isn't going to hurt her. All my boas have UVB access and its a fact none of them need it but again why not try and simulate wild conditions the best you can. If the Red foots you have at work are not eating as much as the Russians you have there do not get one there and suggest to your boss to get them checked out by a vet because somethings wrong. Why are you already reaching for Panacur? If you feel shes in need of Panacur take her to a qualified vet.
 
    I am sorry if I am the heavy on this site I just joined myself and I am not trying to be. but I worked at a pet shop for roughly 13 years and have watched healthy animals I cared for go home and wither away for lack of knowledge from the new owner even when I told them what they needed was often cheaper and  better bought else where and not in the shop I worked at. but the fact remains if you are trying to budget the health of your Tort (Not you but anyone buying one) and a person can not afford vet care then that person should not be getting one in the first place. When I breed my boas  and re-home the offspring I make sure the person obtaining one through me can both afford a vet as well as proper supplies and enclosures for the snake or I don't re-home one to them.

    So research a lot more prior to getting her and if shes a baby remember you are going to have to invest a chunk of change in her through out her life. she will need a far bigger enclosure and she will need proper lighting and heating. as well as a Vet care.

Okay send all the hate mail here everyone but I stand by what I say. over 30 years of owning Snakes and Tortoises makes me pigheaded.

[Lunartwist]

First off, I've done quite an extensive amount of research, and I have 1/4 acre yard and the necessary amount of space to have a medium-sized tortoise. I've been saving and researching on and off for one for over a year. The fact that instead of giving me just general answers to my questions, you come off as judging me, acting like I'm some sort of uneducated child, is rather insulting.

The reason I'm even asking these questions is because I've researched conflicting statements. Like the UVB and temperature thing. Other questions, like the egg one and poop one, I have not found answers to.

And I'm not getting an adult. I'm getting a juvenile. I'm not worried about poop, obviously she's going to mess up my carpet one way or another. Just wanted to know of soaking would lessen accidents.

And when did I come off as trying to budget the health of my animals? I am the type of person who spends $50 on hamster toys alone, even if my hamster ends up not playing with it. I'm the type to overbuy for my pets. I've already spend well over $250 in supplies for this tortoise over the past year. I'm just trying to make sure he needs what I buy him. Like the UVB, I've seen people get a strong UVB light for their reptiles who didn't need UVB (like Leopard Geckos), and their reps' eyes would puff up and they'd get sick from overexposure. I just wanted to make sure I didn't get him a light he didn't need.

I understand you're worried. I'm the reptile specialist at my pet store where I work at, and I've made sure I don't send idiots home with reptiles. If they obviously don't know their stuff, I play bad guy and tell them straight they can't purchase one from us if they don't do their research. But its a bit harsh to come off like you're saying I'm one of those people when you've never even talked to me. So please, if you're not going to be helpful and just be judgmental, don't post. You don't know anything about me, whether or not I've done my research, and completely come off as rude and high-and-mighty to me based on a few general questions.

And obviously, if I DID need to research them more and get expert advice, wouldn't this be the best place to do it? Since, well, obviously you know EVERYTHING already.

[Betty]

Lunartwist, this is the place to do it.  Don't give up on us! Alot of people on here have a passion for their pets and speak very strongly on the subject. Some even have a "my way or the highway" tone. You sound like you have really done your research.  Don't give up on us!! On the forum we tend to be very conservative with the use of medications and will always indicate a vet visit before treatment .
     I am the owner of a Russian Tort, whom I adore.  I am not able to advise on Redfoots, I am sure some similarities do exist, poop for one.   I feed Betty, she usually pees before breakfast and I wait till she has pooped, then  I let her roam and explore.  Using this method I have not had to clean up any poop or pee in 5 years.  
   I love that you spoil your hamster,  We have a gerbil that we babysit and he is a spoiled little guy.  Whats not to love about that!
  Please don't be discouraged and stay with us, its such fun to interact with other people that have a love for Torts,Turtles and Reptiles.  I don't know about anyone else but I have no one else to gush to about this.  I know they think I am like a "crazy cat lady".  But here I am one of the gang!

[Upstart68]

Quite simply no offense meant. Since you work in the reptile department you know what I was saying . You are absolutely right I do not know you but I had little to go on and little time to learn about you prior to having you get her or him, and my logic is if this person happens to not be sure what shes getting into I should at least push her in the right direction prior to her taking the Tortoise home.
 As far as why I assumed that you were budgeting expenses it was the seventh question. I would always recommend going to the vet over self medicating your pet unless you have in the past and know exactly how to do it. I have worked with Panacur in the past on rescues but only after I was shown how to by our local vet (Plus it helps if you live with a vet tech ) lol

again sorry if you took offense I tend to think with my heart more then my brain at times and like I said since you do the same thing I did at the shop you know its always better to air on the side of caution when explaining even the simplest things to a new pet owner. its easy to read the wrong vibe when you view a written post so I  had my girlfriend reread what I wrote and she even said I sounded a bit high and mighty and jerky lol so I AM SORRY! please forgive.

P.S word of caution for all the long timers here odds are I will do this same thing the next time sorry guys. I just want to make sure ever little guy or girl brought home is giving 100 percent.

[Lunartwist]

Oh I definitely wasn't going to use the Panacur by myself. I was just wondering if it was safe...considering I've heard a lot of topical and injection for parasite horror stories that have killed torts. Within the next few weeks (next paycheck) I'm gonna get her a vet appointment and I just wanted to make sure it wasn't one of those convenience things that killed off poor torts.

I figured that's what you were going for and I know everyone wants 100% for the reps they find homes for. I'm always a bit nervous around any customer who wants to buy reps. I drill them endlessly until they understand what they need, and if they can afford it. But since that's all cleared up, its all good now.

Also, I wanted to re-ask the question of: Do heat mats melt the plastic storage containers? Its not a Rubbermaid, but some cheap knock-off bought at target for $35. The heat mat goes up to 65 gallons. Is that too hot for the plastic?

[Upstart68]

I might get my head bit off by other members here but an old trick I learned years ago with any kind of plastic containers is to just go to your local Walgreens or CVS or Walmart and get a $14 heating pad and then you can control the heat level with a dial.. Come winter I use these for my bigger snakes by sliding them under the enclosures (i used to use the pet shop stick on ones but I like controlling the heat better)
http://aarp.walgreens.com/store/catalog/Joint-and-Muscle-Pain/Moist-/-Dry-Heating-Pad/ID=prod3354993-product
I have never melted a container in the last 10 years using them and since the are water proof spills are no bother. I would give a little air between the floor and the container no matter what you use so it has room to breathe so to speak. but if you already have the heat sourse from your work, I would start using it a little at a time and see if there is a reaction prior to using it full time. maybe 30 minutes at a pop. the heat pads i am talking about from the store are for human use so they never get so hot as to burn so I personally think they are a better avenue. and in a pinch can be left directly in the enclosure on those super chilly winter nights.

[Upstart68]

Also if you are just trying to raise enclosure temps you can go for a ceramic heating emitter bulb with a ceramic fixture so nothing melts. a basking site is always needed either way,

[Lunartwist]

Hey, I'm all about new, ingenious ways of doing things.

Also, I have named her Viola. I took her outside into my garden (translation: garden of weeds and flowers that hasn't been touched in a few years) for a few hours (after pulling out all the toxic buttercup) and she immediately went for the violas and inhaled them like no'-one's business. I've never seen her eat so much! She loved it even more than dandelions. Which is something. I guess its her crack.

[Betty]

Viola!!  Perfect!