Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well i've read many care sheets on the net but i would ;like to hear some of your personal thoughts about careing for them and how to do so properly some of my questiosn include
1.Lighting
2.Heating
3.Food
4.Cage size
5Tameness/handling

Thx local

Box turtles are best off when kept outdoors year round in the largest enclosure you can possibly build.
With the exception of hatchlings, I don't think its advisable to keep box turtles indoors: its more expensive in the long run, and turtles are more prone to developing serious health problems as a result of the difficulties in maintaining proper conditions(high humidity, temperature gradient, UV lighting, clean water, balanced & varied diet, plenty of room to roam, adequadte depth of substrate for nesting females, etc.).
If you live in area where box turtles are native, you should definitely keep it outside.
Sorry, I just can't recommend them as indoor pets.
Stephanie

So......everyone (esp. those in northern climates) who has a box turtle always allows it to hibernate, every winter? Otherwise, a box turtle won't survive the winter indoors even with great care?

I don't know what 'everyone' does.
I live in central VA, it gets plenty cold here, eastern box turtles are native to this area, and mine stay outside year round.
I urge anyone who lives in an area where box turtles are native to create an outdoor habitat for their turtle.
It will be less expensive for the keeper, and healthier for the turtle, and easier for all.
We built a 4x8 indoor enclosure to house sick and injured turtles: materials, lights, heating, etc., cost over $500. Our outdoor enclosure, 25x30 ft.(750 sq.ft), with pond (and filtration), cost about $500. We will soon be enlarging it to 1000 sq ft, because we feel that it is still not big enough, considering that these guys roamed over acres in the wild.
Not having to worry about proper humidity and uv exposure and temperature gradients? Priceless.
Overall, turtles kept outside have fewer health problems.
Stephanie

Do you mean that your turtles hibernate in their outdoor enclosure or that they survive Va winters without hibernating?

They hibernate outside during the winter. They survive the process nicely.
Stephanie

1.Lighting

I think everyone here will agree boxies should be kept outside.. IMHO keeping box turtles inside is inhumane, unless there is a good reason for it(ill turtle or hatchling)

2.Heating

I think the sun will do a good enough job.

3.Food

box turtles are omnivores eating almost anything.. from carion to clovers, if you go through the archives of this forum you should be able to find more details posts

4.Cage size

Idealy as big as possibly but I believe min for a single adult is 5x5 and thats pretty small for an animal that can/will roam for miles a day in the wild.

5Tameness/handling

box turtles stress out when handled, and should be done as little as possible, they are a look at pet not a cuddley cute pet.
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