Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I started keeping Estern Boxies last summer.
I live in VA. I have a large outdoor pen set up for them.
I have 4 females. One laid 3 eggs last summer, but didn,t dig the hole very deep and the eggs were broken when I found them.
They have all just recently emerged from hibernation.

Today while my wife was walking in the back yard, much to our surprise, she found a brand new hatchling Eastern Boxie!!!
She yelled for me and I was shocked to see a hatchling this time of year.

After picking it up, we thought it was dead. It was not moving, even when we nudged his feet a bit. He really appeared dead.
Something made me think he might be alive, but cold. ( it was only 53 here today with a bad North East wind) So I took him in the house and put him under a heat lamp for a few, but still no signs of life. When I was just about to give up and burry him, I decided to try a soak in warm water. Much to our surprise, he started moving. HE IS ALIVE!!!

We could really use some pointers on what to do to keep him that way. It is too cold to put him back out. What should we do for housing, bedding, heat, light????

All suggestions or set up descriptions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Steve, Sue & Hatchling

This forum has been pretty dead this week and last. I'm sorry that we're slow to answer such an important question. The problem is, it would take a VERY long response. I don't have time enough right now, I'm sorry. In the meantime, search this site and the web in general for box turtle hatchling care sheets. You will learn a lot. Also, purchase a box turtle book with a large hatchling care section at a pet store. Warning - take pet store clerk advice lightly. Look to the book! That should give you some basics. Then, there are people on here who can give you some really advanced, informed information.

http://www.tortoise.org/general/boxcare.html
*halfway down the page is "hatchling care"

http://aboxturtle.com/box_turtle_hatchling_care.htm

Good luck!

Thanks goodness you were persistant! Dormant box turtles can appear to be dead-you aren't the first to be fooled. The rule of thumb is never count a turtle "out" till at least a day of warmth and moisture!

I have chapter in my online box turtle care book about hatchling care. Please take a look at it and if you still have questions please ask away. Just do a web search on my name.

And congratualtions!
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Tess
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