Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It's that time of year again. I go out nearly every night and collect June bugs for my 3.2 three toed box turtles and then feed them to them during the day. They absolutely love them, and they're really easy to find. Just look around the flood lights or any outdoor lights after dark and there's bound to be tons on the side of the house or screen door or whatever. I'm in Houston, so I don't know how far north this bounty extends. Try it, your turtles will thank you.

Our Junebug season in Florida is pretty much over. Plus we little wimpy ones here. But today, after I'd fed the guys six nightcrawlers each, I was giving their pond a good washing out, so a lot of their dirt/leaves/pine needles floor space was flooding. Fagalo was watching from on top of his sleeping pile, hoping I'd break out another container of nightcrawlers. Suddenly he came running down the hill, into the water, and grabbed what I thought was an acorn. Turned out to be a huge junebug! They sure have keen eyesight.

Nanci
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*****
1.0 Classic Corn, 0.1 Lavender, 0.0.1 Cali King, 0.1 Nelson's Milk
1.0 Tricolor Hog, 0.1 Eastern Hog, 1.0 Florida King
0.1 Eastern Box Turtle, 1.0 Florida Box Turtle
0.0.2 Desert Torts, 2.0 Feral Pigeons

How do you have Desert Tortoises in Florida?

-Just Wondering

-Tony C

The Desert Tortoises were released from a research project in Florida after a three-year stint. They had to find homes here. (I'm in the middle of constructing their permanent habitat- it is going to be SO COOL! I am working on the burrow right now. Two days ago it was 92F out, air temp, 114F on top of the burrow- I don't have it shaded or planted yet, and 84F inside!! It was cooler than my house with the AC running!)

Nanci
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*****
1.0 Classic Corn, 0.1 Lavender, 0.0.1 Cali King, 0.1 Nelson's Milk
1.0 Tricolor Hog, 0.1 Eastern Hog, 1.0 Florida King
0.1 Eastern Box Turtle, 1.0 Florida Box Turtle
0.0.2 Desert Torts, 2.0 Feral Pigeons

Yup my box turtles, my painted, my mud & the African fat-tailed gecko have been thoroughly enjoying June bug season.
Too bad I can't have these things year round!
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PHRatz

-DillyBird thats cool that you can get them over there make sure you post pictures when you finish their habitat. I have a large male myself.

-Tony C

We have a native relative in Florida, the Gopher Tortoise. Same thing, only made for humidity!! The Gophers don't have the whole rescue/adoption network that the Deserts do- it's sad. It makes me very, very angry that a company can pay a fine and entomb (bury alive) Gophers, but a kid could be charged with a felony if he saves a hatchling from fire ants. Their status just changed from Species of Special Concern to Threatened last fall, so hopefully that will help, but for now- pay your fine- kill as many as you want.

Nanci
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*****
1.0 Classic Corn, 0.1 Lavender, 0.0.1 Cali King, 0.1 Nelson's Milk
1.0 Tricolor Hog, 0.1 Eastern Hog, 1.0 Florida King
0.1 Eastern Box Turtle, 1.0 Florida Box Turtle
0.0.2 Desert Torts, 2.0 Feral Pigeons

Thats Horrible that someone can pay a fine to bury them alive, Who would do that???

-Tony C

Developers. There was just a case in a town by Orlando where the city wanted to improve a turnpike interchange, which would involve killing hundreds of Gophers. But it was publicized, and the whole state went crazy writing the mayor letters, so they decided to go to the expense of relocating the torts. (Like that's successful, but at least they have a chance...)

Nanci
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*****
1.0 Classic Corn, 0.1 Lavender, 0.0.1 Cali King, 0.1 Nelson's Milk
1.0 Tricolor Hog, 0.1 Eastern Hog, 1.0 Florida King
0.1 Eastern Box Turtle, 1.0 Florida Box Turtle
0.0.2 Desert Torts, 2.0 Feral Pigeons