Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my son's Box turtle http://www.hoppindesigns.com/turtles
That we got 2 days ago I don'tthink has eaten yet. I put food in there in the AM and change to fresh feed again in the PM thinking maybe she doesn't wnat anyone around while eating however, when I go to chage her feed, it is scattered in the cage and not in the spot I put it in. But I can't t ell if she is eating it or not.

We have tried Dandiloins. Cantalope, Blackberries, Apple, Banana,

-Sarah
Link

She may need more "settling-in" time.

She should have a temperature gradient; one end of her habitat at 80, the other end at 70. Nighttime fluctuation is fine.

Fresh water, shallow enough to be below nose-level when her head is pulled in; container easy to get in and out of! Plastic paint-roller pan is great.

Food:
Dandiloins --- GREAT
Cantalope --- GREAT
Blackberries --- GREAT
Apple --- not much nutrition
Banana --- only *occasional* treat, can be addictive!

Try earthworms or red wigglers from your local bait store! Moving food often stimulates appetite. I think you'll be surprised!
Let us know how it goes!

okay I have also tried Kingworms. With no luck , I just got back from getting her a check up and everything seems to be okay. So I guess I may be paniking for nothing hehehe.

-Sarah

Not sure what a kingworm is.

If it some kind of earthworm, then I'm surprised!
However, if it is the larva of a beetle, then try earthworms!

If you have access to an UNtreated lawn (no fertilizer, no herbicide, etc.) or woods, try collecting isopods (pillbugs, rollypollies) and slugs.

What about the temperature? Boxies do not need high heat, 72-80F, again as a gradient.

What about water? Available at all times? Does she soak at all?

I have a wild caught box turtle and it did not eat for 2 or 3 days after capture. Then, it started eating but only when not being watched. I use an outdoor enclosure so I had to stand back far enough that he could not see me. I would say try a fresh strawberry slice. They love them!

My male boxie Rex is now been with us a couple years and he will come right over to us for hand feeding. We also have a female boxie Jaz that will come over for hand feeding too. They eat a great variety of foods including: slugs, crickets, june bugs, earthworms, peaches, apple, cantalope, strawberry (favorite), grapes, carrots, snow peas, bell pepper, romaine lettuce, sweet potato. I'm sure there are more but those are the ones I can think of.

One trick we use to get them to eat a variety is to use the pulp from our juicer. It is a variety of fruits and veggies and the turtles really go for it. To us it is just using something that would go in the trash while to turtles it is gourmet food!

GOod luck with your boxie and keep us posted...

What kind of box turtle is it? Some box turtles are harder to get going than others. What are you keeping the turtle in? Make sure it is not an aquarium. Give us a description of your set up. If its going to eat something it gonna be something live, try earthworms. All of my three toeds ate worms as soon as I took them out of the box they were shipped in.

Joel

Turtles loves fruits, so I'm suprised they haven't eaten most of what you gave them, but fruits should only be 10% of a box turtles diet. Next time you feed them (which should only be about three times a week) try one or two different fruits and some vegetables. My three 3-toed box turtles love, aside from fruits, tomatoes, bell peppers (NO seeds), cucumber, squash, and celery. Try that. Those turtles may be wild caught (you didn't mention), and those that are wild caught don't respond well to feeding at first. Keep trying. If you decide to get anymore turtles, make sure they're cabive bred. ****MAKE SURE YOUR BOX TURTLE'S DIET IS EXTREMELY VARIED TO GET ALL THE NUTRITION IT NEEDS*****

Here is a great link to get more food ideas....
http://www.boxturtlesite.org/diet.html