As for filtering the water ...



I've never been up on water filters. The wood turtles I had were more into puddle-soaking and not swimming. I thought it much easier to just dump out a bowl of water every day or two instead of hooking up a larger, deeper area with a filter. Especially if they weren't going to do any real swimming. There are species of Rhinoclemmys that do prefer deeper water for true swimming.



That's partly why I've stuck to tortoises. They are happy with a shallow bowl of water for drinking. I also have a 3-toe box turtle. It's a puddle-soaker, too, but is much more tolerant of cooler temps. It stays in a 13 sq ft Rubbermaid bin filled with soil& leaves outdoors in warm weather (~March to ~October) and sleeps in a tub of leaves in the basement over the winter. In fact, an American box turtle might be a good alternative to the wood turtles. They would be fine with your cooler basement temps at night. If you can get an ornate boxie (Terrapene ornata), they need a little less humidity than the Eastern/3-toe varieties (T. carolina ssps). Otherwise it's abou the same diet, and if you get CB hatchlings, you might be able to raise them up without hibernating them. They need moderate temps (60s to 80s), a basking area, a bowl of water, omnivorous diet, moderate humidity, etc. The boxies from the south (florida box, gulf coast box) might be sensitive to cooler temps.



You would need to check your state laws about keeping box turtles. My state allows you to have maybe 5 native animals, of the unprotected variety, but you can't buy or sell them. I don't have to worry, since my neighbors know I like turtles and keep bringing me the 3-toes they find in their yards. It's strange that they find so many because I live in the suburbs and there's no wooded areas or other suitable habitat around.

Also check with the local herp club - my club has boxies up for adoption all the time. And sometimes people have hatchlings for adoption too.



The tubs you mentioned seem like a good design.

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