Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OMG I've been searching these classifieds for baby eastern box turtles(either captive born or bred) and all I find are wild caught adults!!!!!! I guess I have no choice but to go with WC unless someone can refer me to a breeder or something. I've tried to look for box turtles up for adoption, but these sites never have any lists of what they got available. Like turtlehomes.org for example, they don't have any way to contact them and no list on their site as to what's available. THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING!!!!! >

whoops I made a mistake lol. About turtlehomes.org, I need to feel out an application for screening. Sorry about that! lol

I just had 5 hatch out, here is a picture of one in its temporary setup until I am sure it is eating. Ed

I'm guessing that's your ad in the classifieds titled something about 5 baby boxes? Now that brings up another question. I plan on getting a box turtle, but this would be my "first" box(I had one I only kept for a few months). Would I be better off starting with a hatchling or a captive bred adult? Thanks in advance for any help.

snip "I'm guessing that's your ad in the classifieds titled something about 5 baby boxes?" endsnip

Not my ad. In my opinion, my hatchlings are not well started enough to move to a new home yet. I would like to make sure that they are eating well first. I can tell that they are taking crickets as I can find the piecies of the crickets in the shoebox.

snip 'Now that brings up another question. I plan on getting a box turtle, but this would be my "first" box(I had one I only kept for a few months). Would I be better off starting with a hatchling or a captive bred adult? Thanks in advance for any help." endsnip

The risk with babies is with ones that are not stabilized before shipping them out (and in some cases of resellers not feeding them consistently enough to have sufficient fat reserves). Adults are usually more stable but it can take longer to acclimate them to new conditions.
It is about the same to me as to which is easier provided that both are healthy to begin with however I have not seen too many cb adults for sale.

If you are really interested in getting a box turtle pick up a copy of the Box Turtle Manual.

Let me know if you have other questions.

Ed

I have found a captive bred adult male box that I'm considering. And btw, I do have The Box Turtle Manual (the new one). It is really a good book. I also have the box turtle book from Barron's by the Bartletts, which i believe is also a good book as well.

OK another question. This might sound like what I said earlier but should I get this adult captive bred male or should I go for a hatchling instead!?! Help me out!!!! Thanks

If you can't be sure of the condition of the baby then go with the cb adult would be my suggestion.

Ed

where did you see this CB adult for sale? and what is the asking price? i think it's very highly unlikely that you'd find a true CB adult up for sale, and if you did i imagine the price would be through the roof. not to put anyone down i don't know, but i would approach an ad like that with caution.

I don't wish to give out where I found this box turtle, but it was on this site, that's all I'll say. I was even sent a picture of the male, which is decently colored. I do feel somewhat cautious because they cannot give me an age on him. As for the hatchlings, the ones I was eyeing were unsexed, I know gender is of no big importance when it comes to a pet, but I would like a bright colored one, which is usually male. With a hatchling I risk having it grow into a dull colored box(I'd still love it anyway ).