Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hello, i own many reptiles, but this is my first box. my girlfriend found him in the woods of NJ. she brought him home for me knowing i love reptiles...he is bright orange and brown. i know they eat animal and plant matter, but i am looking for more info from owners. like what are the better things to feed him and whats the best way to house him, since i found him in NJ can i just keep him in a large pen outside..any info form anyone would help me out a lot so thanks in advance. also what do box turtles cost i might want to get him a friend. also what kind is he i can get pics, and how do i sex them? and how can you tell age his shell is about 6-7" long thanks Gerald

Unfortunately, your girlfriend broke state law by collecting the animal, and you are breaking state law by keeping it captive. Box turtles are doing poorly in most areas of New Jersey, and that is why they are protected by the state. Collecting one from woods (and by that I'm assuming you mean undisturbed habitat that can acutally support box turtles) means the problem is getting worse for the sake of keeping a pet.

At six or seven inches, the animal is likely a male (they tend to be larger) and a very grown one at that. They are very colorful and hard to resist, but, a lot of professional work is trying hard to salvage these guys in the Atlantic states. Babies, which do better in captivity indoors or outdoors, are easily found and purchased here on ks, but, you would need to get a different kind of box turtle anyway, so as to have a legal one(s). Some states mandate a non-native species, but in other states, a non-native subspecies will do (like a three-toed). I don't know which one New Jersey requires. Babies, if properly maintained, always adapt to captive conditions better than do adults. Please consider being conscienable enough to return this troubled animal's freedoms to it. If you decide to do so, get it back to the exact spot from which it was dislodged. Thanks.

o i didnt know that it was illegal..i will return it nextweekend..i am still interested in getting one however..do you have any caresheets on them.

about any caresheets for this particular animal. Let it stay outside with easy access to loose soil and leaf litter under which it can bury. Don't feed it, either.

Hibernation time is forthcoming in your parts. So, when the animal is returned to its home in a week, it will not have to go through any re-acclimatin shock before it "goes under" for the winter (as it would have to if it were housed indoors, filled with food, etc.).

Check with the NJ fisheries and wildlife service (a state dept.) about the legality of other box turtle (Terrapene carolina) subspecies. Any one know whether NJ mandates a non-native species, or if simply a non-native subspecies will do?

This might help...

it is illegal to pick up a box turtle and keep it. You can move it out of harms way and put it in a safe area near by.

In NJ it isn't a problem to keep box turtles just say you got them from out of state. You will probably need a bill of sale. I believe the phone number for exact info is 908-735-5450. Just ask to speak to someone about getting a hobbyist permit for keeping turtles. Remember in NJ you must have a permit for any turtle or tortoise.

>>hello, i own many reptiles, but this is my first box. my girlfriend found him in the woods of NJ. she brought him home for me knowing i love reptiles...he is bright orange and brown. i know they eat animal and plant matter, but i am looking for more info from owners. like what are the better things to feed him and whats the best way to house him, since i found him in NJ can i just keep him in a large pen outside..any info form anyone would help me out a lot so thanks in advance. also what do box turtles cost i might want to get him a friend. also what kind is he i can get pics, and how do i sex them? and how can you tell age his shell is about 6-7" long thanks Gerald
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

"In NJ it isn't a problem to keep box turtles just say you got them from out of state."

I'm not trying to start an argument over this but want to point out that you're basically coaching on how to pick box turtles from a protected portion of the range and then falsively claim the animals as legally acquired. Do reconsider giving such advice. It jeopardizes the rights of not just the animals, but the collectors as well (should they be caught).

Taking information out of context is not really a good thing.

That complete paragraph I posted was from a friend who does herp population studies in NJ. If you read it the msg also includes the number of law enforcememt. What I forgot to mention is that you do have to have proof of sale for the origin of the animal you are trying to register.

An unscrupulous person might see it the way you do but that was obviously not the intent of the msg.

>>"In NJ it isn't a problem to keep box turtles just say you got them from out of state."
>>
>>I'm not trying to start an argument over this but want to point out that you're basically coaching on how to pick box turtles from a protected portion of the range and then falsively claim the animals as legally acquired. Do reconsider giving such advice. It jeopardizes the rights of not just the animals, but the collectors as well (should they be caught).
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Hello-

I believe this thread was a little longer than it should have been! I agree however that the wild box turtle should be replaced back where it was found. I believe that it would take someone who cares about reptiles to do that, especially since you had your heart set one keeping it. So, if you check the legalities in NJ on owning subspecies of the eastern box turtle, and find that its ok, I am offering you a CB hatchling Gulf-Coast box turtle. Unfortunately I live in MD, and you would have to pick it up, but since you are doing the right thing, I wanted to offer you soemthing in return. Let me know if you are interested, and leave your email if so.

J