Possible Box Turtle buy

Discussion in 'Turtles' started by Cooter_the_BD, Nov 16, 2007.

  1. Cooter_the_BD

    Cooter_the_BD New Member

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    228
    so my pet store has a little 1" box turtle of some kind and it’s so cool, I’m not going to just go off and buy something I know nothing about, and I have learned not to trust a thing the people at the pet store say so,

    Can you guys hook me up with some good care sheets?
    And I also want to see some pics of your enclosures please?
    Oh and of course a pic of you turtle lol

    Thanks so much for the help ahead of time.


    Jake
     
  2. JEFFREH

    JEFFREH Administrator

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  3. strange_wings

    strange_wings Member

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    Some info can be found here
    http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/articles.html - some good tips and articles, especially about what an inappropriate diet does.

    http://www.boxturtlesite.info/

    http://turtle_tails.tripod.com/raisingbaby...babyturtles.htm - some neat ideas, off in a few places so it's not a perfect guide.

    http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html and http://www.greenigsociety.org/foodchart.htm Information about types of veggies. Very important not to feed junk to your growing turtle - bad diet causes shell and even facial deformities as well as compromising internal organs and the turtle's life span. A variety of insects is better then just one or two types feeders. Also, do not feed insects every single day...
    Some people choose to use commercial pellets...myself, I find the ingredients to be very poor (corn) and often not even remotely close to what a box turtle would naturally eat (fish meal?...). They also tend to use bad preservatives.

    Ideal type of enclosure

    [​IMG]

    But since it's already winter that option isn't available to you at this time. Instead you need to get the largest solid colored rubbermaid tub you can. Use a mix of sterile topsoil and peat moss to provide 3-4 inches of substrate. Temperatures range from 85-90 on the warmer end and low to mid 70s on the cool end. You need to provide hides and to keep the substrate moist. Lights need to be on a 14 hour day cycle, UVB is debatable - but if this is your first box turtle it's best to provide it.
    A water dish of clean water that's large enough and easy for the baby turtle to crawl into and out of must be available at all times.
    You must supplement with calcium, calcium with D3, and multivitamins. Failure to do so will led to illness or deformity.

    When weather warms enough in the spring/early summer it is best to build an outdoor enclosure. Overall box turtles do much better outside than in.


    Also, try looking over at the kingsnake.com box turtle forums. There are several breeders over there and the box turtle section is more active.

    Overall, if you've never had a box turtle before I would really suggest you consider adopting an adult instead. You would have a hardier turtle that would be less likely to die from any mistakes you may make and you would be doing a wonderful thing by adopting.
     
  4. JEFFREH

    JEFFREH Administrator

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  5. Cooter_the_BD

    Cooter_the_BD New Member

    Messages:
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    Ok thanks so much, like I said I’m in the early stage of possible getting a turtle, but for sure I agree about the adoption thing, I assume that like any other type of baby, they would become more susceptible to illness and improper care. Oh and that little one looks great in that outdoor cage, good job.
    Thanks


    Jake
     

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