Cotswold wildlife park

Laura1988 · 01-05-2013, 10:39 PM

I visited Cotswold wildlife park at the weekend and I saw that they were keeping their redfoots in what looked like a very dry environment. The substrate looked like sand and was bone dry and the tortoises were all dusty. They were being kept with radiated tortoises. Is this type of environment ok for reds? As I always thought they needed hot humid habitats to keep there eyes clear and their skin supple.

cherylahutch · 02-05-2013, 04:06 PM

They do need a moist environment yes does not sound like a good set up for them

Pussygalore · 02-05-2013, 04:19 PM

best thing is to send them a polite email saying your concerns, you may find they were in temporary housing, I've seen redfoots in zoo's, parks etc and they have always been in the tropical house roaming around on the floor. A polite message will usually get a reply and if you have any doubts pay another visit in a few weeks time then complain but give them a chance to reply first. The local council issue places like that their lisence and they have to meet certain standards of care so they would be the one who would pay them a visit. If you do have to complain find a good care sheet and email that but make sure its from a good source, have a look at the tortoise trust site as they are usually known to most.

Laura1988 · 02-05-2013, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pussygalore

best thing is to send them a polite email saying your concerns, you may find they were in temporary housing, I've seen redfoots in zoo's, parks etc and they have always been in the tropical house roaming around on the floor. A polite message will usually get a reply and if you have any doubts pay another visit in a few weeks time then complain but give them a chance to reply first. The local council issue places like that their lisence and they have to meet certain standards of care so they would be the one who would pay them a visit. If you do have to complain find a good care sheet and email that but make sure its from a good source, have a look at the tortoise trust site as they are usually known to most.

Thank you, I think I will drop them an e-mail, just wanted to check that i was thinking along the right lines

Gordon · 02-05-2013, 07:39 PM

I assume you are on about the ones that are in the inclosure outside by the snakes bats etc if you have a look they have access to the inside where there is a bath that they can go in also the person in charge is very knowledgeable in the care of all reptiles so maybe you should look before you leap

Laura1988 · 02-05-2013, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turnip

I assume you are on about the ones that are in the inclosure outside by the snakes bats etc if you have a look they have access to the inside where there is a bath that they can go in also the person in charge is very knowledgeable in the care of all reptiles so maybe you should look before you leap

Actually no, they are no longer in that enclosure, they are now inside near the crocodiles with no access to outside. While they do have access to a bath this does not change the fact that the substrate is very dry and they looked very dusty. I am not disputing the fact that the person in charge I'd very knowledgeable, I was concerned about their substrate and humidity and I was trying to get more info in order to ease my concern. I find your tone in "maybe you should look before you leap" rather condescending, I spent a lot of time looking, and it appears to me that maybe you could take your own advice and indeed take a look before you leap...

EJ · 07-05-2013, 03:36 PM

Isn't Cotswold one of the bigger and respected zoos in the UK? I would think they have keepers who might know a little more about keeping tortoises than the average tortoise keeper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pussygalore

best thing is to send them a polite email saying your concerns, you may find they were in temporary housing, I've seen redfoots in zoo's, parks etc and they have always been in the tropical house roaming around on the floor. A polite message will usually get a reply and if you have any doubts pay another visit in a few weeks time then complain but give them a chance to reply first. The local council issue places like that their lisence and they have to meet certain standards of care so they would be the one who would pay them a visit. If you do have to complain find a good care sheet and email that but make sure its from a good source, have a look at the tortoise trust site as they are usually known to most.

EJ · 07-05-2013, 03:34 PM

Redfoots do not need a moist environment. They do benefit from a humid hide.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherylahutch

They do need a moist environment yes does not sound like a good set up for them

FLINTUS · 07-05-2013, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EJ

Redfoots do not need a moist environment. They do benefit from a humid hide.

But they still need high humidity, would never really drop below 65% even in the open, most young hachlings would be exposed to 85-90%.

EJ · 07-05-2013, 07:54 PM

They do not. I'd be very surprised if the humidity is anywhere near 65% where they occur. I'd be interested in where you got the information on the hatchlings.

Again... research them a little better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLINTUS

But they still need high humidity, would never really drop below 65% even in the open, most young hachlings would be exposed to 85-90%.

01-05-2013, 10:39 PM	#1
Laura1988 Member Incubating Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Oxford Posts: 211	Cotswold wildlife park I visited Cotswold wildlife park at the weekend and I saw that they were keeping their redfoots in what looked like a very dry environment. The substrate looked like sand and was bone dry and the tortoises were all dusty. They were being kept with radiated tortoises. Is this type of environment ok for reds? As I always thought they needed hot humid habitats to keep there eyes clear and their skin supple. __________________ Laura

02-05-2013, 04:06 PM	#2
cherylahutch Senior Member Adult Join Date: May 2011 Location: Northumberland Posts: 2,170	They do need a moist environment yes does not sound like a good set up for them __________________ Proud owner of Elvis, Padme, Bella,Ruby and Daisy the Horsfields, Mork and Mindi the Indian stars, Toby and Scarlett the Redfoots Yoshi and Cleopatra the Egyptians and Sam the Labrador. .

02-05-2013, 04:19 PM	#3
Pussygalore Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cambridge Posts: 6,479	best thing is to send them a polite email saying your concerns, you may find they were in temporary housing, I've seen redfoots in zoo's, parks etc and they have always been in the tropical house roaming around on the floor. A polite message will usually get a reply and if you have any doubts pay another visit in a few weeks time then complain but give them a chance to reply first. The local council issue places like that their lisence and they have to meet certain standards of care so they would be the one who would pay them a visit. If you do have to complain find a good care sheet and email that but make sure its from a good source, have a look at the tortoise trust site as they are usually known to most.

02-05-2013, 07:39 PM	#5
Gordon Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 5,675	I assume you are on about the ones that are in the inclosure outside by the snakes bats etc if you have a look they have access to the inside where there is a bath that they can go in also the person in charge is very knowledgeable in the care of all reptiles so maybe you should look before you leap

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