Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can someone help me with a suitable setup with eastern box turtles. what is a good watt bubls for hatchling to maintain perfect temp buld not be too much also with the uvb an av light on as well. Any pics would be great to Thanks

I think that most people use rubbermaid tubs for their hatchlings. Not having one, I can't be of much help, but you might go through the old postings to see. I think that most also use the floresent UVA/B bulbs, peat moss substrate that is slightly moistened, not wet. You'll need a hide box (could be an old shoe box with one end cut out or a half log).

You might want to check this site out:
http://www.boxturtlesite.org/bred.html

Thanks.this helps alot

You're welcome. You might also want to check out Turtletimes.com
They have a good box turtle forum too, but it has more people who participate which means that most questions can get answered sooner. This forum gets slow at times depending on people's schedules etc.... I know though that when you have a question waiting for someone to reply can seem like an eternity because you are trying to do your best to take care of the little guy. He's lucky to have you.

Post some pictures when you get everything done.

Indoor Boxie Setup

Sorry for the long wait, been traveling.

Boxies do best in an outdoor enclosure but having said that the next best way is a very large rubbermaid or similar brand tub. I'm referring to those that are 60 inches long with high opaque sides. An under-tank heater placed at one end that is 8- 12 watts set up with a timer to come on when your lights go off will provide the ventral heat necessary for proper digestion.

You can use a PowerSun 100 watt at one end of the tub which will provide heat and UVB and UBA waves. Set it on a timer for 10-12 hours.. Or you can use a dual light setup with a 40 watt incandescent bulb attached to a swing arm lamp to control distance , intensity and the area you want to be your basking place. Then for your UVB & UVA: I'd recommend a 10.0 Reptisun ( The 10.0 rays will reach down to 20 inches whereas the 5.0 will only reach down to 12 inches and has a much shorter shelf life) 24 inch long set in a fish tank cover over your tub or one you can purchase from a hardware store that is more economical. I like to add a reflector which will improve your UVB by 50%. Set it at the opposite end of your basking light on a timer for 14-16 hours.. These don't give much heat. Coralife make a multi set of timers that can control many units on one bar strip for all your boxie's needs and is much neater when it comes to a mass of tangled wires.

For your substrate milled peat moss, or bed a beast are great. An inch or so deep with a much deeper area at one end will suffice for burrowing for moisture or egg laying. Don't use a cardboard box for your egg laying area/ or moisture area.

The mold and bacteria will cause problems with your eggs and boxie's health. You can use a rubbermaid bread box container with the trop off or a similar off brand one filled to the top with your preferred substrate.

You will also need a very large dog feeding bowl or similar rectangular container for your boxie's daily bath. I like ceramic ones...easier to clean ands they don't tip like the light weight ones. Place it near the basking light. Change the water daily.

In a smaller heavyweight dish; I recommend using either Rep Cal Ultrafine D 3 or Zoo Med's 2.0 Calcium with d3 placed in a remote corner. All the artificial light don't comes near the amount of UVB put out by natural sunlight. Tested with a Solarometer; the best light are 1/5 of what natural sunlight provides so always supplement with some good brand of D3 for occasional vitamin dusting; I like Herptivite.

That's a good start. I've raiseded/ bred boxies indoors and outdoors for 20 + years ands have tried everything and then some. You will need to read everything you can on BOXIES.
Good Luck!

Ric K.

Links

http://aboxturtle.com

http://www.boxturtlesite.org/eastern.html

http://boxturtlesite.org/diet.html

Thank you to all i am very excited to get started! All i would need now is any tips on hibernation? sorry i have alot of ? i just want an asortmeny of advise. Living in south Jersey can be tricky.Thanks Paul

Link for Hibernation
http://boxturtlesite.org/dvmhib.html

Links for Hatchling Care
http://turtle_tails.tripod.com/raisingbabyturtles/tour8.htm

http://aboxturtle.com/box_turtle_hatchling_care.htm
scroll down a bit on this one

Link for Indoor Enclosures
http://boxturtlesite.org/indoor.html

Hope this helps; have fun!

Ric K.

I use a black cement tub from home depot. I fill it with bed a beast wet to the point of almost standing water. I put a plexiglass cover with with cut outs for the lights, a uv flourescent bulb and a incandescent uv bult for heat during the day. I also put in a bowl for water and lots of places to hide. I don't supply heat at night, I figured in the woods they don't have a night time heat source! I feed them live insects(crickets, worms, meal worms,and beatles every few days for the first few months then start them on fish food pellets with the insects. When they go outside they get veggies and pellets and all the bugs they can find. In 5 years I only lost 1 hatchling in this set up. I keep them here until the following spring and put them outside in the pen with the adults.
Hope this helps,
Phil

ok i have a 56qt sterilite? would this work for a coupel of hatchlings and yearling? and what is what watt daylight and night light should i put in the 2dome fixuters? i also have a uva/b fixture 18". do i need an under the tank heater one guy said? do i need to get any lids or modify the one i have by cutting Thanks Paul