Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had my three hatchlings for about a week now. They're a little older than that since their yolk sac was absorbed when they emerged. I've tried putting wingling worms in front of them, one was curious, but nobody went for them. I'll keep trying. I can't find any pill bugs, but I'll put some small insects in there, too. From previous posts I see I don't have to worry if they aren't eating right now. Does it sound like I'm on the right track? Might also try giving them pinkie legs and see if they go for that, but just to get their systems going.

Secondly, I was wondering what the humidity should be. I have one end that is considerably more humid than the other. Each end has a hide, but they perfer to stay burrowed.
FYI: Hydrogen Peroxide bottles cut in half lengthwise make great hides that are the perfect size for an aqaurium.

So if anybody can give me feeding pointers and answer my humdity question I'd be very grateful. Thanks a bunch.

Your on the right track. Try feeding the small worms in a plastic lid with 85 degree water in it. Try the same without water. If you use a pinkie leg; make sure you chop it very fine and add a tad of D3 to it. The range for humidity is 60-80%

I also use a dry food know as Gammarus( fresh water shrimp) made by Tetra; crumbled up a bit and placed in the warm water plastic lid works well on some.

Here are a few links below.

http://www.tortoise.org/general/boxcare.html
(scroll down a bit for this one.)

Ric K.
Link

I remember that you said you were in Houston. What species are you working with? If they are ornates, they usually shy away from earthworms until much later. Well, mine do anyway.

Thanks for both of y'alls help. I'm working with three toed box turtles. I got some type of nightcrawlers which unfortunately aren't as active as the earthworms we have here. They don't wiggle around as much, so a little less stimulaton for the turtles. Some of my adults don't hestiate, others won't figure it out or it takes them awhile. I'm gonna keep trying. I know they'll work because one of my hatchlings ate three of them in a row. This hatchling I found in my backyard this morning while giving our chickens and duck their water for the day. It was just sitting there in the grass. I don't think it was from my female. Just don't see how it could be. And plus it has yellow dots on some of its scutes, the ones I hatched out didn't. Anyways, it is a tiny bit bigger than my others, doesn't have much of an egg tooth yet, and is eating so far. I'll keep my fingers crossed. The count is up to four, and expecting two more within the next two weeks.