Redfoot poorly?

[robbiepurvis1309]

I've been wondering whether my redfoot is ill because when I get him out his eyes stay shut for a good minute, once his eyes are open he seems fine - active and inquisitive. His eyes are quite weepy and i've read this can be due to insufficient humidity so i control that at 60 - 80 as it says in a redfoot book. Also when put in his enclosure quite often he will just go and bury himself in his shelter.
Thanks for any help, much appreciated

[sulcata2big]

what uv are you using

[Joe1507]

Are the temps correct?
Maybe he was sleeping deeply due to coldness and took him a while to wake up (my horsefield is sometimes like this when he doesnt have his heat light on)
Maybe he has a eye infection or something, also when tortoises hibernate their eyes and mouths can often get alot of gunk around so could this be realated?

I hope I helped.

[robbiepurvis1309]

I'm using a 5% compact uv atm but I have a uvb meter and I'm not getting enough so I'm going to get a 10% one but I had him in a different setup with a tube uv the right distance away and he was the sam so I doubt its that.
and the temperatures are 25 in cold to 34 on basking spot - fine as far as the book says.

[Tortoise Trust]

I would not use a 10% lamp with a Redfoot. Also, I'd point out that Redfoots (and Yellowfoots) have naturally somewhat "weepy" eyes due to a particularly well developed lachrymal (tear, salt excreting) gland. The claims sometimes made that this is a symptom of dehydration are wrong. It is not. Bad eyes in general can be a symptom of too-low ambient HUMIDITY, however. Redfoots really like it in the 80%+ range.

The best known example of this type of "weeping", of course, are sea turtles, but certain land tortoises also share the trait, Redfoots among them. This is what gave rise to the legends about sea turtles crying, by the way.

There are general problems with some of these compact UV-tubes, however, so I would avoid these at present anyway. A regular 5% tube should be fine.

Andy Highfield
www.tortoisetrust.org

[robbiepurvis1309]

oh thats good I feel much better now thanks very much

[Tortoise Trust]

If this is a juvenile, the following article might give you a few useful hints:

Baby Redfoot Housing

Hope that helps!

Andy Highfield
www.tortoisetrust.org

[robbiepurvis1309]

oh yeh it is and great, thanks!
its a cherry head if that makes much of a difference?