Box Turtle Time!

[NMTs]

In the high desert of the southwest, it's that time of year when the box turtles (Terrapene ornata luteola) emerge from their winter slumber...

Babies, these range from 1-3 years old:




One of the mommas, adult female getting her first rays of sunshine since October:




This year's babies will possibly start emerging from their nests when we get some rain, but they often stay in the nest through the summer and come out in the fall. They're about the size of a quarter when they hatch - so cute!

 

[viper69]

Orates are one of my fav after Eastern Box’s

Ornate smallest species too I think

how long have you been raising and breeding them?

how many in a clutch?

 

[NMTs]

I've had them since I was a kid - one of my females is well over 40 years old! I've got one adult male, one almost-adult male (he thinks he's an adult, but maybe in a couple years), and 4 adult females, 2 sub-adult females. I added the male about 13 years ago, so we've been producing offspring for 12 years or so. Each clutch is 3-5 eggs, usually 4. I don't do anything special to protect the nests, though, so probably about half of them end up hatching out.

 

[viper69]

I had a Gulf Coast once many many years ago

never had this one- I’ve read they can reach 100 maybe over 100. Not sure if that’s scientifically verified.

 

[NMTs]

I had a Gulf Coast once many many years ago

never had this one- I’ve read they can reach 100 maybe over 100. Not sure if that’s scientifically verified.

I've never kept any that would have to be housed indoors - only the ones that are basically native to the area. Many people here keep them in their yards, and further to the south the wild ones will make your yard their home if you feed them regularly.

My family have had them as pets as far back as I can remember, and my folks have a pair of them still. One of the pair was inherited from my grandmother, who had it since my dad was a kid, so it is confirmed to be at least 70 years old - and it was an adult when my grandmother got it! A 100 year old desert box turtle sounds entirely plausible to me!

 

[NMTs]

Here's my male. We call him Merle, but he also goes by stumpy ever since his right front foot was eaten by a family of raccoons 5 or 6 years ago. They got a bit of his tail, too, but the important parts of it are still there. He was lucky to come out of that only missing appendages - one of my other females didn't survive the raid.



He will be focused exclusively on mating from now until mid-May - I won't even bother trying to feed him until then because he won't be interested. Kind of like MM tarantulas...

 

[viper69]

Raccoons are cute but dangerous.
He’s lucky to be alive!
I’ve lived in areas where they are native, but never seen one ever :/

 

[NMTs]

Raccoons and I have an adversarial relationship...

They (the turtles) are pretty good at staying out of sight, especially when it's hot. Late evening and early morning is when they're most active. I often have a hard time finding them in the yard, and I know they're there! Once they equate you with food, though, they come running when they see you - they're not dumb!

 

[viper69]

Raccoons and I have an adversarial relationship...

They (the turtles) are pretty good at staying out of sight, especially when it's hot. Late evening and early morning is when they're most active. I often have a hard time finding them in the yard, and I know they're there! Once they equate you with food, though, they come running when they see you - they're not dumb!

Def not dumb, they are one of the smarter turtles. Wood turtles are supposed to be the smartest turtle I’ve read.

What’s even more funny is just like people boxes with pick out their favorite food items esp if they are sweet!