Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

My box turtle seems to be doing better now that she is staying
outside. As you recall from my earlier post all the former owner said she would eat is corn and didn't eat much. She has been eating every couple of days now and accepting other foods as well. I took everyone's advice and chopped everything up and mixed it together. This morning she had chopped turnip and collard greens, mixed vegetables, dry dog food, a little hard-boiled egg and strawberries mixed with a calcium/D3 supplement. She finished all of it. Hopefully she will start eating daily and gain some weight.

If she continues to eat a variety will it make a difference if she is only eating a 2-3 times a week?

Thanks,
Linda

I feed my turtles three times a week.
They like live foods (nightcrawlers, superworms, crickets, etc.) above all other types.
I think if you offered your turtle live foods, you'll find that it will eat more than it's eating of non-live foods.

Third Eye

That's true, obviously. But you don't want to exclusively feed live food. Any reptile is going to prefer live food, but the trick is to balance in for boxies with greens, fruits, veggies, other proteins, etc.

That all sounds good. Vitamin mineral supplements containing Beta-Carotenoids, that along with NATURAL SUNLIGHT is all that I can think of to add. A little Gelatin (from a capsule) is good, too. Feeding every other day is fine. I usually just leave food out in the pen and they eat as they choose. Most turtles are most active at dawn and early morning, by the way. That's when they usually eat.

Along with the REPCAL Phosphorus free Calcium with Vit.D3, I supplement with the following, any of which is good...ENFAMIL PolyViSol with Iron liquid children's vitamins diluted, REPCAL Herptivite, NEKTON Nekton-Rep, and NEKTON Nekton-R-Beta.

Should add vitality and color. Box Turtles and many Tortoises, especially small and young, bask best if given a latticework from which to bask from under in dappled sunshine. It is psychologically beneficial (security) as well as somewhat more in moderation. Remember, most of these species bask hidden beneath and among tall grass in nature.

Proper hydration has a lot to do with maintaining proper weight. Loose stools and diarrhea would indicate an issue with unfriendly bacteria or protozoans in the gut. A vet visit for a fecal may be in order.

If your turtle eats well but refuses to gain weight and it's not a hydration issue, she may be carrying a large gut-load of parasites (primarily roundworms). Another good reason for a fecal at the vet's.

A BEBEBAC beneficial bacterial culture powdered supplement may help after a course of anti-parasitic or antibiotic medications, as will good clean (not loaded with the same parasites you just got rid of) native soil and plants/flora. Yogurt may also help.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

jsc
-----
"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

A "BEBEBAC" should be:

BENE-BAC (birds and reptiles) or NUTRI-BAC (reptiles)...

jsc
-----
"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

"That's true, obviously. But you don't want to exclusively feed live food. Any reptile is going to prefer live food, but the trick is to balance in for boxies with greens, fruits, veggies, other proteins, etc."

Indeed. I'm not suggesting that only live food be fed.

Tim

Third Eye

feeding 2-3 times per week is good, in fact perfect, do expect your box turtle to eat every day. sounds like you are on the right track
-----
Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

Do NOT expect your box turtle to eat every day.
-----
Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

Thanks for all of the great advice. She does tend to avoid the sunny areas of her enclosure. I have one corner of the enclosure that is deep with a potting soil, sand and vermeculite mixture surrounding a hosta with leave branches covering it. This is her favorite place. She completely buries herself. I guess this is a far cry from the newspaper substrate she had before. I assume her husbandry was probably why she wasn't eating and was inactive. She does come out in the early hours
and wanders around as mentioned in the other post.

Thanks again
Linda

That sounds pretty normal, mine come out at or shortly after sunrise and mill around for a few hours in the morning drinking eating, basking and exploring, then when the sun starts to get hot the head under plants, logs, or dig under the dirt, and basically disappear for the rest of the day. The only exception to that pattern is rainy overcast days they will stay out looking for worms, bugs, and slugs.
-----
Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

I wanted to add that all of my box turtles have hide boxes and they use them quite a bit. The adults have wooden hide boxes. I think it makes them feel more secure. They often have their body in the box and poke their head out and look around at what's going on.

Tim

Mine make their own. I just provide the material. They're outside 24/7.
jsc
-----
"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Just a suggestion, you may want to cut out the dog food - could be too fatty, and have other things in it that are not good for box turtles. Try turtle chow, or smaller pieces of pond fish food.

Bill G.