Care Sheet for TurtlesAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 4.44 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 06/15/2005 |
Main Category: | Aquatic/Land |
Sub Category: | Turtles |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Anonymous |
Years Experience: | 1 to 2 Years |
Species: | Three-toed box turtle |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | N/A |
Sexing and Characteristics: | Males have a longer tail and the cloaca is found farther away from the body then that of a females also the male will have a slight indention in the plastron(bottom of shell) that the female will not |
Mostly Active During: | Day |
Substrate and Water Needs: | They should have a substrate that can hold humidity well and that is easy to dig into such as bark chips, bed-a-beast, and jungle litter
they require a water dish that they can get their whole body into and soak in since they seem to love to do this |
Lighting and UVB: | If they are kept indoors you will need a heat lamp and u.v light
if kept outdoor they do not require either as long as they are in a good spot that gets plenty of natural sunlight
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Temperatures and Humidity: | Ambient daytime temperature of 72 to 88, with a nighttime drop of no lower then 60 are most appropriate for box turtles, but they can withstand 40 degree nights as long as the day time temps are warm
a good basking spot should be around 88 degrees
if they are kept indoor keep about 30 to 50 percent of the enclosure heated
keep humidity in the 50 to 80 range but preferably 60 to 80 |
Heating and Equipment: | They require an enclosure as adults 4x4
they need a good humidity holding substrate, a heat lamp and u.v lamp, large but shallow water dish |
Caging Provided: | I keep my male and female three-toed on my back porch which is 11x3 1/2 feet with a 2 1/2 inch of bed-a-beast with a large leaf pile in one corner and a larger plastic tub that they can hind under in the other |
Diet: | Omnivorous |
Description of Diet: | They will eat anything that smells edible but not everything is healthy for them here’s what is
*low-fat canned dog food(rarely)
*finely cut chicken cooked(on occasion)
*finely cut pieces of beef heart(rarely)
*crickets(regularly)
*meal worms(regularly)
*earthworms(regularly)
*pinkie mice(on occasion)
*slugs and snails(regularly)
*strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, and black berries as well as plums(not the pit)
* cantaloupe, banana, peach, apricot, and apple
*Romain lettuce, green/red/yellow bell peppers, tomatoes, cauliflower, collared greens, cactus pads(thorn less), potatoes
*commerically bought food(on occasion) |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | When fed an adequate diet, box turtles require minimal supplementation. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to monitor the calcium, vitamin, and mineral intake of these animals, To assure adequate nutrient intake, lightly sprinkle your turtle’s food with a powdered reptile calcium and vitamin/mineral supplement once every other day for younger turtles and twice a week for older. do not neglect this section calcium deficiency is the main cause for death in reptiles |
Maintenance: | They need to have their enclosure spot cleaned every day for feces and their water needs to be changed once a week along with a weekly overall look at the turtle |
Some Words on this Species: | They are very rewarding if properly cared for and can be quite funny when feeding as they chase their prey with great enthusiasm |
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