Reptile & Amphibian Forums

:Hello,

:I'm looking for some info on box turtles. I live in
:Massachusetts so I can not legally possess Easterns.
:I am wondering which species/sub-species would do best outdoors
:in the New England summer. Can they hibernate through the winter if given the proper substrate? What is the best substrate for hibernating? I'd like to try to breed them too.

:Any suggestions?

:Thank you,

:Brian

I'm sure you could order an eastern box turtle, captive-bred. or otherwise, from a dealer on-line. Just keep the receipt to show it was from out of state and not native to Mass. That's what I'd do if I were you! Don't forget, you could always consider an ornate box, a gulf-coast box, and/or a three-toed box turtle. But I will tell you that the ornate would be extremely difficult to keep in captivity on the cold, east coast!
Where you live, a box turtle would be ideal for outdoor conditions. You don't have to have it hibernate if you don't want to, but they say it's healthy for their reproductive systems; even if they hibernate for 2 months. There are a few ways to go about it. You can have a heap of dried leaves that the turtle will naturally burrow itself into and/or I've heard of some people putting their box turtles within dried leaves and/or soil in a shoe box leaving in their garage over the winter months. If they are gonna dig into the ground, it must be below the frost line (so I hear).
I live in CT. which is next door to Mass. and I do not hibernate mine. I keep them indoors and nice & warm in the winter and they are outdoors during the summer and early fall seasons. (I'd be too nervous hibernating mine; afraid that they might die or something) If you hibernate them, you must really load them up with food in advance, if not, they could die of starvation...their bodies need to be able to use the energy from the food to last throughout the winter. You see, their metabolism is severely slowed down during that time period. Oh, and never hibernate a sick box turtle (ie: with respiratory infections, etc)
Hope this helps somewhat! If you don't get a box turtle, get a redfoot tortoise (they do not hibernate though).

Christine

Proof of sale would mean nothing legaly in MA.

Thanks,

Brian

Hi,

You say a proof of purchase would not make a difference.
As a last resort, why don't you phone up the Mass. Turtle Rescue?
I'll bet they have box turtles for adoption; maybe if you adopt they can give you some leeway...a special permit?! -- I dunno; check out their site below.

http://www.maturtlerescue.org/

Hope this helps,

Christine

Nope, a reciet would mean nothing. All it proves is that I paid for something that is illeagal to pocess.

Your other ideas are interesting.

Thank you,

Brian

If all else fails and there is no way to adopt one...you could always move out of state! (LOL)

-Christine

NO you could not do that.... NO one without a permit (tough to get, you have to be a rehabber) can own an Eastern Box turtle in MA... period.... no matter if captive bred, from out of state.... nothing.

>>I'm sure you could order an eastern box turtle, captive-bred. or otherwise, from a dealer on-line. Just keep the receipt to show it was from out of state and not native to Mass. That's what I'd do if I were you! Don't forget, you could always consider an ornate box, a gulf-coast box, and/or a three-toed box turtle. But I will tell you that the ornate would be extremely difficult to keep in captivity on the cold, east coast!
>>Where you live, a box turtle would be ideal for outdoor conditions. You don't have to have it hibernate if you don't want to, but they say it's healthy for their reproductive systems; even if they hibernate for 2 months. There are a few ways to go about it. You can have a heap of dried leaves that the turtle will naturally burrow itself into and/or I've heard of some people putting their box turtles within dried leaves and/or soil in a shoe box leaving in their garage over the winter months. If they are gonna dig into the ground, it must be below the frost line (so I hear).
>>I live in CT. which is next door to Mass. and I do not hibernate mine. I keep them indoors and nice & warm in the winter and they are outdoors during the summer and early fall seasons. (I'd be too nervous hibernating mine; afraid that they might die or something) If you hibernate them, you must really load them up with food in advance, if not, they could die of starvation...their bodies need to be able to use the energy from the food to last throughout the winter. You see, their metabolism is severely slowed down during that time period. Oh, and never hibernate a sick box turtle (ie: with respiratory infections, etc)
>>Hope this helps somewhat! If you don't get a box turtle, get a redfoot tortoise (they do not hibernate though).
>>
>>Christine
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Greg
http://greg978.tripod.com/

Do a search on three-toeds. Three-toeds are personally my favorite of the boxies. There not as active as say ornates, or easterns, but they are just as interesting and beautiful.

Check out Tess Cook's web site on box turtle care before you acquire any turtles.
Also, consider this: if you do acquire a turtle that is not native to New England, trying to hibernate it outdoors would probably be catastrophic. There are controlled hibernation methods discussed on the site previously mentioned that work well.
The Box Turtle Manual, by Phillippe de Vosjoli & Roger Klingenberg D.V.M. is a great little book that contains a wealth of information for less than $10. I highly recommend both sources of information for anyone searching for basic care requirement information.
Link

Any of the North American box turtles do well in MA during the summer, mine will be living outdoors shortly, they can stay out until late October usually (I live in MA too). I have 3-toed and Ornates, and they do fine here in the summers. I hibernate them indoors in my fridge.

Ornates like it a little warmer and dryer, but still need moist substrate to burrow in if they wish.

Greg

>>:Hello,
>>
>>:I'm looking for some info on box turtles. I live in
>>:Massachusetts so I can not legally possess Easterns.
>>:I am wondering which species/sub-species would do best outdoors
>>:in the New England summer. Can they hibernate through the winter if given the proper substrate? What is the best substrate for hibernating? I'd like to try to breed them too.
>>
>>:Any suggestions?
>>
>>:Thank you,
>>
>>:Brian
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Greg
http://greg978.tripod.com/

I would respectfully disagree in the case of florida box turtles.

Oh, and I forgot to add... my FL boxies They do just fine.

>>I would respectfully disagree in the case of florida box turtles.
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Greg
http://greg978.tripod.com/