Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi All,

I have set up my terrarium and have had my turtle living there for a little less then a month but lately i have noticed a lot of little things crawling around in the substrate (i use a combination of bed-a-beast, repti-bark and spagnum moss). I dont know exactely what they are because they are so small. The only reason i can tell that they are there is because they crawl around. Is there anyway i can get rid of them? i know i could probably change all the substrate or rinse it all but is there anyway to prevent these little thing from coming back?

Also yesterday i got two baby boxies from my pet store, they are really small and really cute. Anywayz one of them doesnt look to healthy, he has a really, really soft lower shell and he seems really flat compared to the other baby. I was wondering what was wrong with him and what i can do to help him. i soaked him yesterday in water for awhile, he drank alot, and i fed him some boiled chicken, he ate alot, but is there any medicine i should get to help him?

And finally when do you think i can introduce these guys to my 2 year old boxy? Do i have to wait till they are full grown?

in the picture you supplied, they look relatively healthy. um, the plastron will be soft for a while as they are hatchlings, but will get more firm as they get older. dont intrduce them to a 2 year old box just yet (mine would trample the hatchlings accidently) you can give them supervized playtime, but don't put them in together to live. im sure you figured that out already though. what do you mean by terrarium? a box turtle really needs a large space (even indoors) either a rubbermaid or a turtle table to live. i really don't reccomend a tank of any sort.

-gina

What is your pet store doing selling baby box turtles? It is illegal for pet stors to sell them that small.

Read about raising baby box turtles from webpages on the Internet. Use a search engine and type in baby box turtles or read the hatchling section in my online box turtle care book, www.boxturtlesite.org/bxbook.html

Keep them warm, well hydrated and fed them daily. Be sure to add calcium to their diet and have a UVB light source for them.

As for the tiny bugs in your tank-a thorough rinsing of the substrate in hot water is required. To keep some types of bugs away-don't allow food to remain in the tank but remove all pieces of food after an hour.
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Tess
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