Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I looked in the tubs today and all the turtles had there heads poking up out of a hole in the dirt looking around and about half had crawled out and were on top of the soil. I looked at the 10day forecast and looks like 50s-60s highs and 30s-40s lows, so tomorrow they all go back outside. I ususally put them out around the first part of April depending on weather. Even if we get some nights to dip down below freezing they will just burrow under and be fine, the sun is starting to get enough power during the day to warm the soil. Tommarow I start building the new open pen, have to go rollor skating for my niece's birthday party today (haven't skated since I was in junior high, hope I don't break something) otherwise I would start work now. I decided to use stone (concrete) blocks instead of wood, I think they will look more natural and hold up better over time, plus can alway easily modify. I will try to remember to take pics
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Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

went to take pics and a couple more had just crawled out, can you see the one eastern with just her head above ground?

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Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

one of them is still burrowed but probably not far down.

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Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

.
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Vichris
"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane"- Marcus Aurelius

Are you sure? I just looked and they came up? not sure what the deal is if you still can't see them?
Anyway the boxies did go outside today and I started up both the backyard ponds pumps for the waterfall and fountains, ahhh spring!!! finally
I took all their weights some were only 1-2 grams less than they weighed in the fall others had lost 5-10 grams over winter, they all looked great though and had clear bright eyes all but one eastern female, she had some puffiness and crusty cheese in one eye, but I have seen that before and ususally with a day or two in the sun and a couple good soaks will clear right up, but I will watch her this next week and just as a precaution quaranteened her in a diffferent cage untill she clears.
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Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

I checked again. I just get a red x with the word "image". Not sure whats up with that.

Wow you've got a lot of activity compared to mine. I'm happy for you that spring really does appear to be springing....LOL.

We have still been having cool weather here. Today was nice and a few of mine came up but burrowed right back down after being up for a while.

One of my little ones came up for awhile yesterday but it's eyes were puffy so I soaked him in some warm water and he brightened right up. Eyes all clear and got active. After he dried off I put him back in the pen and he hung out on top for a few then burrowed back down.

Tomorrow is supposed to get into the 70's..... should see more activity.
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Vichris
"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane"- Marcus Aurelius

See if you can see them this way. I uploaded them onto kingsnake photo album instead of using a URL image link

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Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

>>See if you can see them this way. I uploaded them onto kingsnake photo album instead of using a URL image link
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>>Jeff Benfer
>>gartersnakemorph.com

Now thats what I'm talking about. They look great
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Vichris
"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane"- Marcus Aurelius

Jeff,

Where do you live? Are non-captive boxies emerging there yet?

I live in Iowa. as far as non-captives there are reports of an isolated pocket of ornates supposedly only a couple miles from my house near a river, but they are very rare in not gone completely, and I turkey and deer hunt there and have never seen one. There are also ornates on the other side of the state in the southwest part of Iowa near Nebraska border. For this reason Ornates are protected in Iowa and also why I do not keep them only 3 toes and easterns.
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Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

Very cool stuff, Jeff. Hope to see pics of that new pen soon. My juvies here came up Tuesday. I fed them a worm each then and then they didn't come up yesterday, but were up with vigor this morning. They each at pillbugs, a snail each, and a slug each. My 3-toed has stirred yet, but he didn't until a week or so after the juvies did last year. Guess he'd rather have the extra sleep.