Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I live in Delaware and there are lots of easterns around even my house. I would like to make a little enclosure in the back where I could cycle a few wild caughts and then let them go again after a week or so. How high does the fence have to be so they can't get out and what is the best material?

Also, I usually only keep them for a week or so, but is there any food that they like more than anything else? Some have really gone for worms, but I would like to have some kind of food I can get from the grocery store. I heard they were mushroom lovers, but even the ones I find here they don't seem to like to eat. Ideas?

I made my enclosure out of hardware cloth and it is 2-3 feet high. They can climb hardware cloth so I had to put a rim along the top.

Height isn't that important if you don't need to keep anything out. You'd probably ought to make it over a foot high. Its also important to provide hiding places and shade, using branches, hollow logs, leaves, hay, etc.

In my opinion, you shouldn't waste your money on supplies and time if you're only keeping a certain turtle for a week. Hardwear cloth will run 20-30 bucks, you'll spend another 20-40 on lumber for the posts, depending on how sturdy you want it, and a lot of money of food from the grocery store. If you do decide to go on with this, you need to do research on the net about box turtles. Check a lot more than one source, too. Once again, I wouldn't bother, but it would be a fun hobby if you decided to have some as pets (CAPTIVE BRED ONLY PLEASE)
Let us know what you plan on doing.

Cost of the hardward cloth will depend on the size and height of your pen. 3' X 15' rolls are around $12.00.

No lumber is necessary, metal fence posts are around $2.50 a post.

For a temporary pen, chicken wire might work, but wouldn't recommend that for long term.