Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In my pen, I am currently housing 4 adult boxies in 8x8 pen. Alright. In this section I have this, In one 4 sq foot section i have cypress mulch and two savannah grasses (need to get some more) In another 4 sq foot section i have a water dish and two lirope (this area is covered solid, the other areas are not. They allow sun to get through, this one doesn't) In another 4sq foot section i have planted grass in about a 3x2 area, with two lirope outside of the grass, and in the last 4 sq foot section i have nothing but dirt. What do you think I could do to make this pen better, and another thing. i am thinking of adopting/selling out one of my turtles, and getting two more 1.1 so that would bring the ratio to 2.3 again. You think this is OK?

>>In my pen, I am currently housing 4 adult boxies in 8x8 pen. Alright. In this section I have this, In one 4 sq foot section i have cypress mulch and two savannah grasses (need to get some more) In another 4 sq foot section i have a water dish and two lirope (this area is covered solid, the other areas are not. They allow sun to get through, this one doesn't) In another 4sq foot section i have planted grass in about a 3x2 area, with two lirope outside of the grass, and in the last 4 sq foot section i have nothing but dirt. What do you think I could do to make this pen better, and another thing. i am thinking of adopting/selling out one of my turtles, and getting two more 1.1 so that would bring the ratio to 2.3 again. You think this is OK?
**********

You didn't mention any hide structures. I use natural hollowed out logs that the turtles can crawl into. I got them when I had an old, rotten tree cut down. You can use any sort of material to build hide boxes.

How big is the water dish? For four turtles you should be using something big, say a large roller paint pan. (Don't usde galvanized steel.) I bought a black plastic one at Sherwin Williams Paint Store.

Plant some small, low shrubs. I use dwarf boxwood and something I can't think of the name right now, but it grows low to the ground so it provides shade.
Good luck with your turtles!
-----
Tess
PHBoxTurtle
Kingsnake.com Forum Host

I would also plant more things that are of the bush type to provide deeper shade and add hide boxes of some sort. They can be as simple as plywood across cinder blocks.

As per your idea of making your group 2.3... what species is this? I keep 2.3 three-toeds in one pen, but I would not try this with my easterns, which I keep set up in pens with only one male. My male easterns will battle much more viciously and continuously than my three-toeds. I do put them together for supervised visits in the spring to get them going, which seems to spike their interest in the females, but I don't leave them like that.