Sorry for my overexposure on this forum lately, but work near the Holidays is very sloooooow. It gave me time to snap some pics.
Someone contacted me via email about my box turtle care. I'll just answer questions here if you don't mind. WARNING - Boring information below!!
I made a custom rack system (almost like a book shelf) for raising hatchlings. I keep them in ~ 20inch X 10inch sweater boxes (2 to 5 in each, depending on size). They are kept on sphagnum moss and have a tupperware lid water bowl. I keep a smooth stone in with them to help wear down their fingernails a bit. There are Reptisun 10.0 flourescents on them. The light is only about 6 inches from the turtles. The way it is built, heat from the lighting is conserved and the rear part of the sweater box ,where the light is located, remains at about 85 degrees all day. The other end hovers between 70 and 75, depending on the room temperature. I have no heating on them at night, and my room temp. is around 68.
I feed them everything I can get my hands on; superworms, waxworms, mealworms, earthworms, crickets, soldier fly larvae(phoenix worms), pill bugs, outdoor beetles of all kinds, frozen and thawed pinkies and guppies, grasshoppers, tomatoes, yams or sweet potatoes (partially cooked), fruit (rarely), and much, much more. I spray or dust all live food with calcium at one feeding, then multivitamins/minerals the next. Weekly, they get a little plate of my prepared food concoction...I soak some Reptomin until it's the consistency of oatmeal. Then, I mix in very finely chopped (in an electric chopper) kale, collards, or mustard greens. I mix it in a 2 parts greens to 1 part Reptomin ratio. Then, I form it into little balls and freeze it on a baking sheet with wax paper. When it's frozen solid, I place all of the balls in a freezer bag. I can make several months worth of food this way. I defrost it in the refrigerator the night before and offer it after it reaches room temp. the next day. They only get this once weekly. I gut load my feeders with sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, and apples.
I customize my husbandry to the different species. For instance, the Florida Box turtles stay more wet than the others, while the Desert Box turtles are kept much more dry than the rest. The Floridas get more protein, while the Three Toeds get more vegetables...etc.
When they're large enough, and when the weather permits, they're moved outdoor permanently. The diet stays much the same except I add in more fruit for sub-adults and adults.
I hope this helps.
Two different bauri...note the head stripe.
I want one!!!!