Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been putting Yurtle outside in her enclosure every day w/ a screen top, so she can be "wild". Today when I got home she was in a non-shaded spot & was dead!
I'm so sad! I love my little turtles sooo much! And to have both of them die this month is just too much.
Both of them had the shell rot when I got them last Oct. I just didn't realize what it was until now, although neither case was advanced.
I just feel so bad. I really loved them & miss them already. Here are their baby pictures... Robin

-----
Robins Critters
1.0 Corn snake Jack Skellington
1.1 Hog Island Boas Harley & Isaboa
0.1 Albino Sonoran Gopher Snake Jasmine
1.0 South American Boa Elvis
0.1 Western Hognose Addy the Adder
1.0 Tricolor Hognose Yoshi
1.3 Leopard Geckos Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.2 Crested Geckos Fox, Peek & Boo
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo
0.0.1 Eastern Box Turtle Yurtle
0.1 Pacman Frog Buffy the Cricket Slayer
0.0.1 Sulawesi Red Toad Mr. Toad
0.2 Tiger Salamanders Tiger & Sally
1.1.3 Firebelly Newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Olivia Newton John & Thandie Newton
1.1 Cats Gus & Mena

I'm sooo sorry to hear about your loss! I know it's always difficult!
-----
0.1.0 ornate box turtle
1.0.0 eastern box turtle
1.0.0 Yellow belly slider
0.1.0 Red belly cooter
0.1.0 Australian shepard
1.9.0 chickens
3.2.0 children (do I still count the married ones?)
1.0.0 husband

You did your best. Hatchlings are so delicate. I am sorry.

Thank you both. I feel so bad about it. I really enjoyed having the turtles.
I want to get another. Judging from my 8 months of success followed by two successive deaths, do you think I'd be better getting an adult, or at least not a hatchling next time? I strongly believe in buying CBB &, of course, want to do what's best for the animal...
-----
Robins Critters
1.0 Corn snake Jack Skellington
1.1 Hog Island Boas Harley & Isaboa
0.1 Albino Sonoran Gopher Snake Jasmine
1.0 South American Boa Elvis
0.1 Western Hognose Addy the Adder
1.0 Tricolor Hognose Yoshi
1.3 Leopard Geckos Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.2 Crested Geckos Fox, Peek & Boo
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo
0.0.1 Eastern Box Turtle Yurtle
0.1 Pacman Frog Buffy the Cricket Slayer
0.0.1 Sulawesi Red Toad Mr. Toad
0.2 Tiger Salamanders Tiger & Sally
1.1.3 Firebelly Newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Olivia Newton John & Thandie Newton
1.1 Cats Gus & Mena

hatchlings have 50% chance of dieing in the first year. I have only had adults, but a juvie would probably be okay as long as it is over a year old. You might want to check out the classified ads or see if PHRatz knows of someone who has an older turtle that they can no longer keep. Check with you local rescues and see if they have any box turtles. All but one of my 8 turtles was given to me by someone who could no longer keep it. It has worked out well for me. Also check wiht your local herp vet. They may have some leads too.

Thank you so much. The statistic alone makes me feel better.

I re-did my research last night & know I want to get another Eastern. Ornates are beautiful, but everything I read says they're not for beginning turtlers. The last thing I need is for another turtle to leave this world under my watch!

Thank you for the suggestions. I've already sent a message to my local rescue & put the word out at my herp society. I'll follow your other suggestions, too.
-----
Robins Critters
1.0 Corn snake Jack Skellington
1.1 Hog Island Boas Harley & Isaboa
0.1 Albino Sonoran Gopher Snake Jasmine
1.0 South American Boa Elvis
0.1 Western Hognose Addy the Adder
1.0 Tricolor Hognose Yoshi
1.3 Leopard Geckos Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.2 Crested Geckos Fox, Peek & Boo
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo
0.1 Pacman Frog Buffy the Cricket Slayer
0.0.1 Sulawesi Red Toad Mr. Toad
0.2 Tiger Salamanders Tiger & Sally
1.1.3 Firebelly Newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Olivia Newton John & Thandie Newton
1.1 Cats Gus & Mena

What was the outddor enclosure like? How big, materials used etc.

It was just her regular enclosure- I'd carry it outside & cover it w/ a screen cover. A big tupperware- like 48"x15"
-----
Robins Critters
1.0 Corn snake Jack Skellington
1.1 Hog Island Boas Harley & Isaboa
0.1 Albino Sonoran Gopher Snake Jasmine
1.0 South American Boa Elvis
0.1 Western Hognose Addy the Adder
1.0 Tricolor Hognose Yoshi
1.3 Leopard Geckos Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.2 Crested Geckos Fox, Peek & Boo
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo
0.1 Pacman Frog Buffy the Cricket Slayer
0.0.1 Sulawesi Red Toad Mr. Toad
0.2 Tiger Salamanders Tiger & Sally
1.1.3 Firebelly Newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Olivia Newton John & Thandie Newton
1.1 Cats Gus & Mena

Small enclosures placed in direct sunlight tend to dry out quickly and heat up even with a screen top. They have a tendency to cook their occupants. You have to be extremely careful when using a cage like that outside. I wouldn't recommend it.

Normally I cover 1/2 the cage with a foil-covered lid, so there's a big shady section over the pond & part of the land. On this particular day I tried not using that because she normally spent most of her day under her log pieces, which are shady, but are on the sunny side. Thinking she was able to access her shady spots if desired was my fatal mistake, I believe. I should have always kept the reflective cover over 1/2 the cage...

The top layer of her soil on the sunny side tended to dry, but I always re-wetted it every morning & when I brought the cage back in in the evenings.
-----
Robins Critters
1.0 Corn snake Jack Skellington
1.1 Hog Island Boas Harley & Isaboa
0.1 Albino Sonoran Gopher Snake Jasmine
1.0 South American Boa Elvis
0.1 Western Hognose Addy the Adder
1.0 Tricolor Hognose Yoshi
1.3 Leopard Geckos Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.2 Crested Geckos Fox, Peek & Boo
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo
0.1 Pacman Frog Buffy the Cricket Slayer
0.0.1 Sulawesi Red Toad Mr. Toad
0.2 Tiger Salamanders Tiger & Sally
1.1.3 Firebelly Newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Olivia Newton John & Thandie Newton
1.1 Cats Gus & Mena

I am so sorry for your loss.

Try doing some searching for reptile rescues. Maybe you could find a nice homeless one to adopt.
Good luck on your search for another.
-----
PHRatz