Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I picked up a box turtle from some pople that didnt want it anymore on saterday along with RES,while the RES seems to be in decent shape, the box turtle which was with teh previous owners for about 9 years is only 2 and 3/4 inches long has a sorto of lopsided shell ,no tail damaged feet, and a flaky shell, i thought he had shell rot on the bottom but it turned out it was just dryed on food and poo that came off with a soak in his water bowl (i dont think he had one before i got him) and his hinge didnt work until he got a good soaking either. right now he's in a ten gallon tank on paper towels with some greens in the corner a shallow water dish in the other and a 60 watt bulb on one end for heat.
I've never had a box turtle before but im going to do my best with him, i want to keep him indoors so i can monitor him, though i am taking him outside everyday for sun becuase i dont have a uvb light for him yet.
should i move him into a bigger tank?
what kind of substate would be good for him? is ecto-earth any good for box turtles? i use it for a few small lizards so ihave some around.
some good staples foods for him? so far he's only taken collard greens im going to offer some squash tomorrow
should i chop his fod into small pieces or leave it hole and let him rip it up?
any thing else important that i should know?

Oh that poor baby! Please get him to a vet as soon as possible. Food suggestions are night crawlers, mealworms, waxworms (as a treat), crickets, strawberries, cantalope, collards, yellow squash. You can find some very good information here www.boxturtlesite.org

thnax for the help with foods, i dont think he's fast enough for crickets so im going to dig up some worms for him and try as many good fruits,veggis and greens as i can to see what he likes
i havnt been able to find the canned food, but i did try wardley turlte pellets and he didnt seem intrested.
he's going to be seeing a vet soon when i bring some of my herps in for checkups.

Ohh..... I also give my boxie a combination of Zoo Med Box Turtle food and Wardley's Aquatic Turtle Sticks, both moistened. I've tried Reptomin for him but he won't eat it. He also loves sardines. LOL

Sorry for the multiple replies but I forgot.... a 10g aquarium really is too small. You can get a cheap underbed storage box for him. Paper towels are great substrate and easy to clean. As to the UVB light, I wouldn't worry about it now as long as you can get him outside for real sunlight which is better anyway.

"Paper towels are great substrate and easy to clean"

I totally disagree with that comment, paper towels are horrible substrate for box turtles, they're burrowers, paper towels will end up getting shredded and stuck to the turtle and also limit the amount of humidity is in the enclosure, unless of course you keep them soaked which isn't a very good idea, get some sphagnum moss and top soil and through out the paper towels.
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im moving him into a larger tank today, i think i'll use ectoearth for his substare unless thers any reason i shouldnt
though he hasnt done much in the way of shredding he just pushes his way underneath teh paper at night

A 55 gallon rubbermaid container would also work for his cage. I use forest bedding for my box turtle, but I think eco-earth would also work. You want to make sure he has anough humidity.

does he have to be moved into that large a container right away?
he's only just under three inches long right now, i can get a larger container i just have no idea where im going to put it, the largest thing i have right now is a 20 long so i guess i'll move him into that until i can get something bigger.

I think the 20 gallon long tank should be fine as a temporary cage, but bigger is better.