Baby Florida box turtle

[DolphinRyan]

I've recently acquired a baby Florida. She's about 1 3/8'' so I'm pretty sure she hatched not too long ago. My question is, what sort of sleeping pattern should a turtle such as this be displaying? Currently she comes out for about two hours in the morning when the light first comes on (during which time I feed her) and than again later at night for 30-60 minutes. I have a damp patch of moss that she's been burrowing under whenever she rests. She has plenty of energy and appears to be relatively healthy from my point of view. I'm just wondering if this is a normal pattern of sleep for someone her age.

 

[Bamabrian81]

That sounds about right, box turtles dont like to stay out to much in the open to avoid predators. She looks like she is in very good health.

 

[shells-n-scales]

they might just come out early morning, and later afternoon, and surely after a heavy shower. If you mist him/her down, she should become active!

 

[coura]

Completly normal, actualy thats what you supose to see. In wich condicions you have her and what have you been feeding?

 

[DolphinRyan]

I have her in a 20 gallon tall with alittle over and inch of water covering 2/3 of the tank. In the other third I've used the aquarium gravel you see underneath her to create an elevated area which slopes down into the water. I have a squirt bottle that I use to mist the moss she sleeps under two or three times a day. The temp's about 85ish and she's been eating ReptoMin® Baby Sticks. Is there anything else you guys recommend for her, whether it be food or habitat related?

 

[Bamabrian81]

It doesnt need that much water in there. Also they love fruits and veggies and they go crazy over earthworms.

 

[DolphinRyan]

I read that young ones are more carnivorous, do they still like/need a fair share of vegetables and fruits?

 

[HPIZZLE]

id keep her going with the protein then give her fruits and veggies in a few months or so as a staple.

but with how small she is now, anything she eats that you bought from a reputable buyer is prolly good.

 

[Bamabrian81]

Yeah you can feed her fruit as a treat for now. Go more with protein to help get her shell hard.

 

[coura]

I read that young ones are more carnivorous, do they still like/need a fair share of vegetables and fruits?

It is absolutley imperative that you get her started on both fruits and dark leafy vegetables now, or else 2 bad things will happen: first later she will either ignore them or just nibling them insted of taking mouthfulls and second she could become reptomin adicted wich would be really bad and happens very often with box turtles wich are animals of habit and wille its a good food its only a small part of the diet wich should be as varied as possible. The lack of fiber and the protein will make her grow up to fast and get shell problems such as piramidism and also possibly kidney and liver problems. This is the time to act. Besides reptomin you must get earthworms, slugs and small comercial buggs to your turtle. The vegetable part will be constitued by cantelope, strawberrys, mulberrys, blueberrys, water cress, dandilions, turnip greens, hibiscus,etc. All shopped and mixed together. Aim for a 50/50 animal vegetable diet. Ad a good suplement like zoomeds reptivite. You also need a good 5.0 uv ligth like zoomeds iguana ligth