Baby Box Turtle Care

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Jharris1385

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 6, 2011
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United States
I have 5 Eastern baby box turtles.

They were discovered roughly around the end of September of this past year.

Currently I have them in an aquarium - the set up is nice and I think I am doing it right but I would rather hear some advice from hopefully someone with more exp. than I.

- They are on a moist coconut bark bedding, a couple good plants for hiding, a water dish and are on a bloodworm diet.

What else would you do?

How much growth and activity should I be witnessing?

Thank you.
 
First thing I'd do is make sure Easterns aren't protected in your state, as they are in many. Next I'd check out this caresheet. If you have any specific questions after that, you can ask them here, but I'd recommend asking on Turtleforum.com or turtletimes.com, as there are dedicated Box Turtle forums on each with extremely experienced keepers.

Josh H
 
Feed them in a shallow dish with water in it. Mine would chow down on Reptomin and cichlid pellets. They also love chopped earthworms, pinhead crickets and newborn dubia roaches.
 
Picked up out of a busy yard where they had a lower chance of survival due to other pets, mowing and etc.


- I have also fed them pill bugs/sow bugs as well.

The advice I was running off of was from tortoiseforums.com.

They really did not seems to like any of the pellets I have tried with them. But I will try some of your suggestions.

Thanks again.
 
Jharris1385 said:
Picked up out of a busy yard where they had a lower chance of survival due to other pets, mowing and etc.
Click to expand...

In captivity, they're essentially dead to the wild gene pool anyway. Any reason you couldn't have just moved them? Or moved most of them and only kept one? Five is more than really anyone needs.

Josh H
 
I have had many before, many at the same time, just never hatchlings.

I like to seek advice like I have no prior knowledge therefore a greater range of advice and tips are presented.
 
I'm not saying that you aren't capable of caring for them, but perhaps that they would be better off in the wild gene pool, helping to get their species out of the ''vulnerable'' status.

I'd still like to know where you're located to be sure that it's even legal to possess them in your state.

Josh H
 
Just ordered more pill/sow bugs.

May try phoenix worms as well.

At this age how active should they be?
How much heat and lighting is too much?

I know in the wild they live in the leaf litter for the majority of their first few years.

My goal is to aid the population's numbers.
The majority of adults I have kept for a longer period of time was due to finding them crossing the road and either injured or crossing an area that was not desirable.
 
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