Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey, everbody!! A few months ago I found a baby eatern box turtle in the middle of the road. I took him into my care and he was doing great. Unlike other box turtles I'ved owned before, he loved being held and he was really friendly. I fed him a little cat food, baby food, and live food. He lives in a Rubbermaid box with a little hiding place. But recently all he ever wants to do is hide. I soak him often so he won't get dehidrated becasue all he does is sits there. His eyes are now always closed. This is very unlike himself. Should I take him to the vet? Thanks!!

J.L.

When you say baby, how small is the guy?

Ummmm, his shell is about the size of the palm of my hand. Maybe a little smaller. When I first got him, he was littler, though.

J.L.

The turtle may not be such a baby after all, but I have no idea how lg/sm your hand is.
Do you have UVA/UVB lighting for it? Window glass cuts down significantly on UV light, and turtles need it.
Does your setup have a temperature gradient (75-85),so that the turtle can move from from a cool end to a warm end?
Box turtles should be kept outdoors if you're living in their native range.
Box turtles also have a more varied diet than what you mention offering to yours.
I suspect your turtle is sluggish because of a combination of factors: consider creating an outdoor habitat that has some sun, some shade, things to hide in/under such as logs and leafy plants, a shallow water dish with a steady supply of fresh water, and a more varied diet.
Stephanie

He's about

--------------------------

big.

J.L.

What about the other items mentioned?
Please give a more detailed description, unless Rubbermaid tub w/ hide is indeed all you're providing.

Stephanie

Ok, he is in a Rubbermaid tub about 2 feet long and a foot wide and 7 inches deep. Something like that. In it is Eco-Earth bedding. He has a piece of bark tht he hides under, a waterdish that you put the waterbottle on so that it feeds into, and a corner that's covered. Above him(he's on my office counter) are shelves and at the bottom is a longlight about 16in. above his cage. I'm pretty sure it's a UVB but if not it's pretty close to one. Every couple of days I give him a long soak. In his food dish I leave him baby food or cat food. I mostly use baby food. I use chicken, green beans, and carrots baby food. He like green beans the best. I also drop in a few crickets that disappear in a short time or I find, like, parts of them. Once in a while, I drop in a mealie or something. He doesn't like solid food like solid green beans or something like that. He is socialable and likes to be held. But lately I always find him underneath the bark, not even in the shaded corner. He looks like he's sleeping, but his eyes look swolen. I pick him up and he kinda makes a breathy noise. It takes him a couple minutes to open his swolen little eyes, but after he opens them they look completely normal sized. He's also become slower in his movements. What's wrong with him??? Is that a good enough description???

J.L.

Yes, that's a better description, thank you.
Ordinary fluorescent bulbs do not provide enough UV light for turtles, and in any case, a fluorescent fixture would need to be closer than 16 in.
If the fixture can accomodate 2 tubes, try substituting one of them with a uv light(black light), and move the setup closer to the light source. As long as heat doesn't build to above 85 degrees you're fine.
Also, soak your little guy in conditioned water daily, and make sure the substrate also stays moist. Conditioned water is tap water that has been allowed to sit in an open container for a day so that chlorine can evaporate off.
Humidity and light levels can be difficult to maintain indoors, resulting in sick little turtles, so consider keeping it outdoors if possible.
Stephanie

I should add that the almost-yearling babies I have went through a sluggish phase early this spring which resolved itself when I replaced their lightbulb. They are much perkier now, have good appetites and are growing well.
Try moistening Reptomin and feeding that to it: its a fairly nutritionally complete commercial food available at most pet supply places (even Walmart sells it). Its marketed for aquatic turtles but is good for box turtles, too, and would be good for use in addition to what you're already providing.
Stephanie

Thank you so much for your comments!!! Will you please tell me what the perfect kinda cage possible would be and what to put in it!!! Thanks!!!

J.L.