Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok well I haven't been posting here in a while but anyways I have a three toed boxie(not sure of sex or age)and currently she is being kept in a rubbermaid tub with topsoil/moss with some branches/logs and a rock and a tupperware bowl...I haven't seen her really eating lately and I admitt I haven't been giving her my full care that I should be...I wanted to move her in to my old rabbit cage with these pellets(eatable)mixed with carefresh and like a little pan of dirt. Then there would be some rocks and logs and a dish of water. What do you think? I don't think she would get much humidity though even if I was misting and have my heat lamp...We were gonna build a pen outside but now I don't know because we just got 3 birds and a puppy and have like 13 other animals so it is really hectic and I don't think my dad is up to paying another boat load of cash and building it too but I'll see and also she hasn't been pooing or eating I need some help desperately! do you think she could possibly have parasites??

well start by taking a deep breath, because if your willing to put in some work your turtle will be just fine. you basically need to make sure their cage is clean and that you give them fresh fruits and veggies every day. i give my three toeds a half dozen bugs of some kind every week, but the more meat you give them the better.
wax worms could work wonders for you, as they are a favorite food amoung reptiles. silk worms are another good choice. picky eaters usually sucum to the temptation of these bugs.

without seeing your turtle i can't tell you if it has parasites or not, but if you see any abnormalities in your turtle such as puffy eyes or discoloration or missing scales or scutes, then you should defintely see a reptile vet.
hope this helps

Box turtles do best kept outside in a natural-type pen setup. They are much less likely to get sick kept outside and can be kept outside year round (if healthy)if they are native to your area.

You said you have a heat lamp. Heat lamps can get pretty hot, it's not too hot is it? Make sure it is on one end so the turtle has a warm spot but can move away if it wants to be cooler. Not eating can be a sign that the turtle has been sick for quite a while. Also make sure the turtle is getting 12-14 hours of light per day. I'm attaching a web site you can go to and click on various pages that will help you learn to determine when your turtle is sick, get proper diet and housing, etc. See below.

The best thing to try to get your reluctant turtle to eat is a live earthworm. Something wiggly usually works best. If the turtle is warm enough, has 12-14 hours of light per day and still won't eat earthworms, you better get it to a vet. If you can't take it to a vet, find a rehabber or herp group that will take it for you and get it the vet care it needs. Don't let the not eating go on and on before you do something or it may be too late. Major organs can start to shut down if a non hibernating turtle hasn't eaten in 6 weeks. Try soaking the turtle in 1/4-1/2 inch of tap water for an hour everyday to keep it hydrated.
GCTTS care, diet & other info.

Remember, if you can't afford the vet, you can't afford the pet!