Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have an outside turtle enclosure for my adults, Eastern box and spotteds, but I was wondering if someone would advise me as to how to set up an inside home for my hatchling box turtles. I know that the aspen I use for snakes is too dry and they need access to shallow water, but what is a good substrate. I'm going to house them in an aquarium.

http://turtle_tails.tripod.com/raisingbabyturtles/raisingbabyturtles.htm

This is the best site for raising hatchlings IMO. There are so many pictures of his vivariums that he keeps baby boxies in. Everything you need to know, with pictures.

Wonderful site. Thanks

Enjoy them! They grow slowly, but it is fun watching them develop. Baby boxies can dry out quickly. I kept mine for the first two months or so in a smaller size container with shallow water (about 1/2 the height of the boxies) and a "blob" of Sphagnum moss for them to climb on and hide under. It is easy to clean by rinsing the moss, rinsing the container and wiping with a paper towel. After about two months I move them to a aquarium with a substrate of moist peat moss, a shallow water dish and a couple of half flower pots to hide under. This worked well for me, and I moved them outside after about 3 years. Well, I only have gone that far with one, a now 5-year-old male. Two other yearlings are also doing great!! Give them a varied diet...they want mostly live food in the beginning. Small live worms are always a favorite. Pillbugs, small aquatic snails, etc. are also good. Fresh caught earthworms seem to be one of the best.

Thanks! I set them up in a 6" x 12" with orchid moss and the water like you said. I had been misting them to keep them moist, but this set-up looks good. I'll fix up a terrarium for them at a later time. I have plenty of worms available. I also have some Reptomin, and I ordered some reptile sticks. Looking forward to seeing them develop.