Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all. My family has had pet box turtles (very pretty and colorful 3-toed and ornate) outdoors in the yard for a long time. They have bred, and have been very easy to take care of outside with very few problems. I am moving to Wyoming in 2 weeks, and am taking 3 of last fall's hatchlings with me. For a couple years, at least, I will be keeping them indoors year-round, and have been doign lots of research on how to properly house them indoors. I hope to eventually be able to build outdoor enclosures for the summer and then hibernate them inside in winter. But I haven't been able to find any info on keeping them outdoors in summer in cooler places. How cold is too cold at night, and at what point do you know to bring them in for winter. Also, soon, my mom is going to be movign to colorado, and will not be able to take many of her turtles (over 30) since they cannot live outdoors year round there. how do you recommend finding homes for them (she's so scared of them going to bad homes). AND lots of them are under 4 inches since they are captive bred, so they cannot go to petstores. I would love to take a few more, but unless I can find a way to keep them outside in summer, I just dont think I can house more than 3. Is there a forum or anythign where you can post turtles for adoption, or is illegal to ADOPT turtles under 4 inches as well? Any ideas would be appreciated.
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0.2 Beautiful calico kitties "KIMBA" and "TOPAZ"
0.1 Rat "Wicket"
1.1 WTF "Pepe & Bendito"
1.1 Firebelly toads "Bif & Kaboom"
0.0.1 Painted (chubby) frog "Millhouse"
0.1 Normal Cornsnake "Skoda"

Depending on where in Colorado your mother moves to, and if she can build a nice outdoor home with good winter protection, she may be able to take the Ornates with her since Ornates are found in some areas east of the Rockies in Colorado. You should make a phone call to Dr. Klingenberg in Greeley, Colorado to learn more about just what an Ornate can take in eastern Colorado.

As for the turtles you are taking to Wyoming, I would keep them inside at night and only let them out in a daytime pen. Unless the night time temps stay above 65 degrees and go above 80 in the day, I think the problem might be they won't be able to warm their core body temp enough if they get too cold at night. Sure, they will appear to do OK for awhile, but I would be concerned that they cannot digest food well and would suffer from that in the long run. Ornates have dark colored carapaces just so they can absorb heat faster in Colorado and other areas where nights are a tad cold. If you are in the mountains in WY I don't think they can live outside all the time.

As for placing the turtles in new homes, that may be easier then you thought as there are many people who love box turtles. I will email you if you write to me at PHBoxTurtle@PetHobbyist.com
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Tess
Kingsnake.com Forum Host

I live in the pacific northwest and have all four subspecies of boxies....in separate living quarters. I have had boxies for 22 years . Our night times temperature drops are usually around 40 degrees. Most of the year I house my boxies inside. Part of the time during the summer they are in a large enclosed area with a subterranean waterproof hog heater on a timer; so the heat will come on as the temp drops and go off as it warms up.
The heater is four feet long and two feet wide. With different thickness of peat moss over it; it also had varied temperatures so the boxies can thermoregulate themselves....In the evening.

Housing inside is a bit tricky with the proper lighting and phosphorus/ calcium balance. Email me just by clicking on my username for more info. I also can help you with finding a few very well informed boxie lovers.
Ric