Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my male three toed box turtle has a flat plastron, he seems to mount okay but it's almost like he gets stuck half way through, I dont know if it's because my female is unwilling to mate or if his shell shape has something to do with it, I'm positive he's a male, would not having a concave shell be a problem?

this year will be my first year hibernating, before I really couldn't, I've had my female for 6 yrs and my male for 3-4 years, should they be able to handle hibernating?
I'm going to put them in the basement and check them almost daily(like you would with the refridgerator method) would that up their fertility and hopefully bring off spring or will it take a few years for them to be fertile again?
thanks!

In my experience, it is pretty common for male three-toeds to lack a plastral concavity. I would say that since I have seen this in wild specimens in areas where the local box turtle population is quite high, a lack of a concavity would not affect a male box turtle's breeding ability. Some box turtles just don't want to breed, and this can be for a number of reasons. Hibernating does seem to help box turtles in reproducing, but it is not absolutely necessary in order for box turtles to reproduce. I have heard of box turtles that weren't allowed to hibernate for a number of years, and still produced offspring. I would still reccommend hibernating box turtles that would hibernate in the wild. As I said before, box turtles may not want to hibernate for a number of reasons. Make sure your male to female ratio is adequate. Many females do not want to breed because the male(s) is too aggressive and chases her around a lot. I like to keep my box turtles in 1.2 or 2.3 groups. Also make sure your female has enough room and hiding spots to get away from the male if she wants. Health is another big factor. Make sure that both the male and the female are offered a variety of nutritious foods, along with vitamin and calcium supplements. As stated before, hibernation plays a big key in the reproductive cycle of box turtles. Good luck with breeding these wonderful animals!

Steve

I believe my female might be gravid with my first male (who unfortunatly died a few years ago) I believe they had a successful mating when I first got them and I'm hoping she is indeed gravid with his offspring, and she's just holding out on me cause she hasn't hibernated.. my ratio is about to improve by 0.1, she should arive tomorrow or tuesday, I was told she was gravid, so I have my fingers crossed,
I feed them a varried diet every other day.
I'll let you know what happens
Thanks for responding!

Box turtles are probably the most hilariously bad design for comfortable mating of any animal I know. The males do really look unbalanced and foolish while getting "locked in" and afterwards they are dragged around on their backs staring at the sky while the female does what she wishes until she releases him. Three-toeds rarely have much of a depression and all the north american species don't have enough of a depression that I would think it critical for mating.

Hibernating them will likely bring about an increase in mating next year, but it will increase in reliability as they get used to the seasons and their cycles adjust.

Make sure your basement is in the low 40's. They shouldn't be any warmer than that when hibernating.

I'm going to put a thermometer in the basement when it starts to cool down,
thanks for the input!

I agree, male three toed box turtles typically do not have much of a depression. They should be able to hibernate just fine - maybe you should consider limiting there hibernation time, as in the wild, they are on a regular regime of gorging themselves, when the can in preparation to hibernate. Also, checking them daily may be a little excessive, as it could disturb their hibernation - maybe once a week would be better.

Just some thoughts.

Bill Griffin

only reason I said check them almost daily was incase something went wrong I could stop hibernation,
would two times weekly be to much?
Thanks for the input!

I am not sure what the right amount would be - it just seemed that once a day would disturb them too much. Actually if it was up to me, I would check them once a week. I check my box turtles once a month, if that, and have never had a problem - I am here in California, which could be better, or worse. Better in the fact that it doesn’t get below freezing, and worse by being to warm for some of them to hibernate - they basically stop feeding - which is bad, and I have to bring the non hibernating turtles in, and replicate warmer conditions.

This is not an exact science, and what works for one person/turtle will not work for another person/turtle. You are doing the right thing by asking. Hope all of that helps.

Bill G.