Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need help I am wondering if I can keep ornate box turtles outside here in arizona.I have two from california that are about 10 months old and three hatchlings from texas along with a adult ornate and I have a 80 gallon tank but want to move them outside once I get a secure area free from dogs and cats. I worry that the weather here is too extreme so if there is any arizona box turtle keeper with any advice please help.

Brandon

1.0.5 Ornates

Yes.

Its legal and totally doable.
You just need a large pen and an ability to keep at lest half of it shaded and moist (think sprinklers).

It is a good idea to invest in good loamy topsoil too. (unless youlive in the mountains you will fid the soil here to be sandy full of clay and not suited for digging into or growing anyhting).

Find us here also:

http://www.sloanmonster.com/forums/index.php?s=

I live in buckeye which is west of phx about 30 miles and has the same temps of phx so is it still possible?

Yeah. In facy i think the Buckeye area is amongt he driest in the state ( i was there yesterday and i can't belive how much worse the vegetation is in the west end of the vellye than in the north and east).

Like I said big pen, lots of cover, several inches of good top soil. lots of plants, and twice daily moistening of the about half the cage, and of course a large shallow water dish.

you have ornates right?

they might not liek the few cold days we have here...you may consider bringing them in for some of dec, jan and feb.

Also, you don't plan to keep the adult with the hatchlings do you?
He might eat them, you know.

Careful with hatchlings outside here too as cats, coyotes and hawks are all known to take turtles from Phoenix turtle keepers.