Reptile & Amphibian Forums

how do you keep them indoors? i live in monterey, ca and it is to cold to keep them outdoors.

Before you totally rule out keeping them outdoors, check the climate of their range extending into Minnesota. They can handle cold very well. Humidity is more of a concern, especially cold humidity. I haven't checked your climate, but I'd consider keeping them indoors as an absolute last resort...just my opinion.

Keeping them indoors is usually best served by a tortoise table(as big as you can possibly afford and have space for). I have had to overwinter individuals indoors for illnesses or low weight. It is a lot of work, as they tend to be much more active than most other box turtles. Also, they seem to do better with more frequent and smaller meals(which means more frequent defecation). They foul water very quickly, and constantly try to climb the walls of an indoor enclosure. If you're dealing with wild caught, it is especially difficult.

Frankly, the only thing that is beneficial about keeping them indoors is that they thrive at comfortable room temperature and humidity. Give them a full spectrum basking light on one side, and a moist hide and water dish on the other side and they are usually happy. They MUST have an area where they can warm up and dry out, and they MUST have an area where they can cool down and hydrate.

Ratz has kept them indoors, so she will probably have some hints.

How old are the turtle(s) that you are considering?

That should read...
How old is/are the turtle(s) that you are considering?

Yes I have kept them indoors and am very happy to have the girls outside now!!
Frankly I don't see living indoors forever as a way to go with them. My goal for all of them has been to get them ready for life outdoors full time.
They have been a lot of work for me indoors because I've use(d) Rubbermaid boxes as homes, (Chip is still in one) and they tend to not do well with a water dish so that means I've done daily bathing. Because my house can get too cool for them even in summer because of the air conditioning I do use an under tank heater on one side of the tub so that they can choose heat or no heat.
I've kept them with no food or water in the plastic tub, at around the same time each day they take their bath, then they get their food if they need it. I created an area in the house that's turtle proofed & I let them roam for a couple of hours because they do need the exercise.
My goal in all this has been to make them ready to live full time outdoors though. Chip won't be ready for another year at least so he is in need of a daytime pen to stay in. Right now I take him outside for sun & fresh air while I watch him.
If your climate allows it finding a way to eventually get one outdoors full time is the way to go.
-----
PHRatz

http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?camtry sca

Wow, is this accurate? Does it really not get even into the 70's during the summer?

You could definately hibernate them safely, just don't know if there is a problem with it NEVER getting into the high 70s and 80s.

I would still have, at least, an outdoor pen. Mine are active outside, even when it doesn't get above 70, but you would want to have part of a pen in full sun. That may be all they need.

Anyway, you could try and see how they do.
Link

Nice find. Wow, there's no way an ornate or any other box turtle could handle that. The OP's instincts were correct. At that temperature, the turtle would hardly even digest its food. If it were me, I'd get a Chinese Big-headed turtle. They thrive at that temperature. Of course, overwintering accomodations would be needed.

Well, they could spend time outside, but they might need to
warm up under a basking light.

We often have several days at a stretch where the temp won't break 70 in the spring, and the turtle are out and often eat, if its in the upper 60s. But by late May temps are in the 70s, and sometimes 80's.