Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What is the likelihood of crossbreeding ornates & easterns in a 10x70' enclosure? Obviously many other issues are involved (parasites, diseases, proper habitat for both species, etc), but first I want to be certain I wouldn't be encouraging any genetic heresy.

PS--Both sexes of both species would be represented.

From what I gather, "mutts" are not very desirable in the trade, so from that standpoint alone I would encourage keeping them separate. Ask yourself what you intend to do with any offspring...
I don't even know if it is possible to cross them.It sounds like you have enough room to comfortably divide the enclosure.
Stephanie

I definitely do not want turtle mutts, although dog mutts are another matter altogether. If crossbreeding is likely, I won't do it.

>>I definitely do not want turtle mutts, although dog mutts are another matter altogether. If crossbreeding is likely, I won't do it.

It's highly likely, given the general horniness of male box turtles!

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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

If you have males and females of both species in the pen together there may or may not be cross breeding going on. If possible the different species seem to prefer their own kind, however there is always the chance they might interbreed (they can produce viable offsprings) and that is something most breeders try to avoid.

Box turtles are slowly disappearing from the wild and anyone that undertakes the breeding of them in captivity should consider the issue of normal biodiversity and keep the turtles geneticall pure whenever possible. Who knows, some day the state may come to depend of you to repopulate the state with your purebred box turtles?
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Tess
Kingsnake.com Forum Host