Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey, can someone help me out with a few things? firstly, what is the ideal setup for box turtles in seattle? I dont know if it is safe to keep them outside at all.. but if someone could tell me that'd be great. Also, i have a softshell that is (im pretty sure) farmed. is it normal that he has never once basked? i figure its not his instinct to do so anymore..

thank you! - Ingrid

depends on what subspecies of box turtle you're talking about, I wouldn't keep an ornate outside year round someplace that it snows for 6 months, nor would I keep a northern eastern outside year round where it stays warm/hot year round, during the warmer part of the year it's fine to keep box turtles outside but you need a subspecies that's use to the climate in seattle to keep them outside year round.

as for basking, every turtle basks, I dont know soft shell behaviour to tell you how often/how long but if they are like any other aquatic they should bask for ateast a few hours daily, the fact that it's not basking makes me think maybe the basking spot is not warm enough.. or maybe too warm? I dont keep aquatics so I can't say for sure.

As Rouen says... depends a great deal on the subspecies of your box turtle.

If you are asking ...What type can live here? ...I do know of several herp friends in Seattle that have eastern box turtles they keep outdoors year round in a large 10 x 20 enclosure. The wet weather and mild winters with stable summers is almost perfect for them.

Ric K.

I was wondering for
a male and a female ornate,
a male and a female three toed,
and a male eastern.

the three toeds are rescues. they came from a closet. but they are doing well enough now, i dont if the girl is sturdy enough to go outside.

It gets pretty cold in seattle sometimes, but very little or no snow.
thanks for the help!

While Ornates like a daily bath; the long peroids of fine rain and damp climate may leave them predisposed to shell rot and fungal diseases.

The Three Toed and Easterns should be fine. They survive in north eastern areas that get much colder than Seattle. You would need to provide a proper area for hibernation; and condition the boxies for hibernation. Never try and hibernate a sick or weak turtle. See link on box turtle hibernation.... below.

Ric K.

Link