Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A coworker told me he caught he almost ran over a baby snapping turtle in his yard in the city limits of Boone, NC. He had put in a cage with 2 ball pythons and a heat lamp. I came over to get it out of there, not expecting much. Sure enough, it was a hatchling box turtle. It barely moved, eyes closed when I picked it up. I put it in a small sterlite container filled with a little bit of water to rehydrate him, and dug up some small earthworms to put in. Now, two days later, he has eaten the worms, three tonight and currently chewing up a slug I dropped in. Are slugs OK? What is a good diet for hatchlings? I am planning to let him go, but I will have to look around awhile for a suitable place that is not in danger of imminent development. Thanks for any help.

Good'on ya for saving that box turtle! The fact that you have gotten it to eat is a good sign that it is healthy enough to be released. The general rule of thumb is that the longer you keep it, the less chance it will have of adapting to life in the wild. If you do keep it, I think the website, "boxturtlesite.org" is a great place for information.

You'rve been given great advice from Terrapene.

The only bits I might add are that if at all possible;
try and find out from your friend where exactly he found it.

Look for an undeveloped forested area close to where it was found and that's where I'd try and release it.

I'm assuming a great deal here......If what I've suggested is not possible, than use your best judgement regarding placement.

Earthworms and slugs are an excellent food for it as long as the food is not collected near an area treated with garden or lawn pesticides. Also it would be great if you could feed him his fill, and soak him again prior to releasing him.

It's great he was found by a person of your caliber!

Ric

Thanks for the replies. Is a pure worm/slug diet ok for him now? I have seen adult box turtles kept that quickly developed the viatimin defiency evidenced by the swollen eyes from lack of green vegetables. I do not want to release it where it was found because it was in the city limits in the middle of a neighborhood. Too much of a chance of getting run over by a car, lawnmower, or meeting a cat, racoon, skunk, or possum.

Finely chopped up slugs and worms would not be injurious to him as boxies are more carnivorous when very young.
The worms are high in calcium and other nutrients; and the slugs will have some plant matter in their gut; which will become part of the boxies diet.
Use your best judgement in the place of his release...As you are the most familar with the area in question.
Ric