Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here are a few of the boxies I've come across so far this year here in new jersey. Unfortunately I've found too many whose nests have been raided by raccoons and coyotes. I really don't know how any box turtle reaches sexual maturity between predators and ass hole poachers. Here are some pics,

Wow! Those are some nice looking boxies! They look so perfect and are so colorful. Thanks for sharing the photos of them!

I hope everyone is doing ok. I haven't posted in a while because I have been a little busy. Anyway.......just an update on my shelled family. All are doing great and really like their new enclosure my husband and I built for them. Since it faces east, the turtles get the first light of the day. When I go out there shortly after the sun has come up, I usually find 3-4 of them out walking or just sitting in the sun taking in the "new" day. I usually wait about an hour and then go out and feed the ones that I see out and about. I check off and on until I see the late wakers and go and feed them too.

Squirt, my baby boxie, is in a long plastic storage box. I put a portion of one of the grass sod sections I bought for the other's enclosure in there along with a flat rock to eat off of and a recessed water tray for soaking. At one end I put a deep layer of peat moss (no additives) that he digs under when he has eaten, sunned and soaked.

I usually place his container on the east end of my patio so he gets the morning rays of sun. After the sun has moved and is no longer shining under the patio, I move the box so the hot afternoon sun won't hit it. I have a piece of window screen fabric over the top of the box. It is held in place by a long piece of elastic that I tied so that it fits quite snugly around the top edge of the box. Squirt seems quite happy in his abode! Don't know why I call Squirt a "he". Anyway.... all the turtles are doing great "knock on wood"!

Oh, I forgot about the 'stranger' turtle. I borrowed the name of Hobo from PHRatz!!(Thank-you!) Anyway......Hobo is doing fine. No one claimed him, so he has made his home in the backyard. He chose the end of one of the flowerbeds to make his cubby. He has full run of the backyard and loves it. Not once have I seen him pacing the fence line acting like he wants out of the place. He knows where to find him a drink of water anytime he wants it; where to go to get his breakfast; and of course he knows where the best place to sit and watch the day go by is. Generally, he is a pampered turtle, the same as the rest!

How about the rest of you on the board? How are everybody's shelled friends doing? I think it is always fun to hear about everyone's turtles. I hope all of you are having a good day! Take care!..........9boxies

My Hobo is honored to know that another boxie has his name.
Glad to hear that all is going well at your turtle house.

My shelled kids are doing well. I'm in the middle of teaching my kid class right now so my house looks like a tornado hit it because I haven't had time to clean it.
Broken washing machine isn't helping matters either. :-x

My boxies went to class this week & did very well. We had the kids sit in a circle on the floor then let the boxie girls walk around in it, they tolerated that very well. The kids love a sad story so Chip was popular with them but I didn't allow him to walk around too much. We had several tortoises & aquatic turtles for them to look at too so Chip got to relax most of the time in the little cage I took him in.
Hobo did not go with us. I like allowing him to remain as wild as I can & besides he'd bite the kids if he went with me.
If he were 60 pounds like our tortoise is, he'd be dangerous. LOL
Session 2 starts after this week so they'll go to class one more time. They'll do fine again.
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PHRatz

WOW! Loved your PICS!
Thanks,
Ric

Thanks, all five of those turtles where found in the same general area of about 500 square feet. The variation is incredible, the bottom one was a male, while the two orange ones appeared to be juvenille's, but looking to be males. The two lower females were very heavy and close to laying eggs. The third to last was my favorite, she was huge and heavy, and had markings like I've never seen, not your typical jersey eastern. I should have pictures throughout the summer. Take care

>> I should have pictures throughout the summer. Take care

Great can't wait to see more because these are terrific.
Thanks for posting them here.
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PHRatz