Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone. I know this is long, but please hear me out. I have bought four groups of box turtle hatchlings in the past year or so. The first group was two gulf coasts. They were both brown as hatchlings, and both are now 1 1/2 years old and healthy. The second group was three easterns. They were all pitch black as hatchlings and all three have died. The second group was a pair of three toes, one black, one brown. The brown one is 1 1/2 years old and healthy. The black one died. The fourth group was six easterns, five brown and one black. The five brown ones are all eating and growing, while the one black one hasn't eaten in two weeks and I fear he will meet the same demise as all the other black ones. I have temp. and humidity at the proper levels, and I offer a good variety of foods. I have UVA and UVB lights. I give calcium and vitamin suppliments. I am convinced it is not anything I am doing wrong, so why do all eight of my brown ones thrive, and now my fifth and final black one is headed for his death? Has anyone else experienced a similar trend? Thanks for reading, and any and all input would be greatly appreciated. ---Jay
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2.3.1 Three Toed Box Turtles
1.1.6 Eastern Box Turtles
0.0.2 Gulf Coast Box Turtles
0.0.1 50/50 black and white California King Snake

if you're positive it's not something you're doing wrong and since the brown ones are all thriving I'd be looking into birth defects or maybe stress, are all these hatchlings in the same enclosure? if this one does die I recomend take it in for a necropsy, were they all bought from the same breeder? might be he incubated them wrong(too high temp, too low temp, too little humidity, too much) - who knows.. sorry I'm not much help.
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My Site
1.2.1 Terrapene Carolina Triunguis
0.1 Nymphicus hollandicus
1.1 Melopsittacus undulatus
1.0 American Cocker Spaniels
1.0 American Short Hair? Cat
1.1 Rouen Ducks

The six easterns were all bought from the same breeder, but each of the four groups came from different breeders. So if and when the black one dies, I should take it to the vet for this procedure? I just find it strange that it is only the black ones, and all the black ones that are giving me trouble. Thanks for the reply. ---Jay
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2.3.1 Three Toed Box Turtles
1.1.6 Eastern Box Turtles
0.0.2 Gulf Coast Box Turtles
0.0.1 50/50 black and white California King Snake

any local herp vet in your area should be able to do a simple necropsy, if it's going to be a day or two before you're able to take it in put it in a plastic bag like a zip-lock and put it in your freezer just do keep decay from destroying anything vital.
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My Site
1.2.1 Terrapene Carolina Triunguis
0.1 Nymphicus hollandicus
1.1 Melopsittacus undulatus
1.0 American Cocker Spaniels
1.0 American Short Hair? Cat
1.1 Rouen Ducks

"put it in your freezer"

Actually, put it in the fridge. My vet says to keep them cold, but do not freeze.
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Kelly Wood

1.1 Cherry Head Redfoots
1.0 Brazillian Redfoots
0.0.2 Leopard tortoises
0.0.2 Sulcata tortoises
1.1 Sandfire Bearded Dragons
1.0 Maliuromastyx
0.2 Dogs
0.2 Parakeets
1.3 three-toed box turtles
and a number of bantam chickens