Turtle Questions

[MizM]

K guys, here I go again with a species I know NOTHING about! I have a "box turtle", um, about 10" diameter (?) my new house has a brick planter 20 feet long and about a foot high and maybe 3 feet wide. I'm going to keep him out there. If I put two spotlights in the planter, will he know to go near them when he's cold? How deep will he burrow? What are good plants to plant in there with him?

Any other hints would greatly help, I wanna keep the darn thing, just not in my new house!!

 

[spider]

I am sure he will go to the lights to bask.I would cut a big barrel in half,and put it on the ground for it.


It will eat romain lettuce,and bananas.You can also fead it worms.


It might not burrow.

 

[Ravnos]

Box turtles rarely exceed 5-6 inches in shell length. If you're not sure what species you have, it would be best to figure that out first before you decide how to care for it. Could you describe it or better yet, post a pic?

Rav

 

[Wade]

Yeah, that sounds like a whopping big box turtle! I have a fair amount of experience with US box turtles and have never heard of any that big. If it's an Asian species...maybe. I don't have any first hand experience with those, but we have a very large preserved shell of a flower box turtle, so I'd say it's plausible. All my comments here pertain to NA species, but if you determine it's Asian, I have alot of books and could look up some info for you.

Your brick planter sounds like it might be a great enclosure for a box turtle or even several box turtles (does it have soil on the bottom that they can burrow in?). If it's NOT a box turtle, however, it might be misirable in that set up. Since you put quotes around "box turtle" I sense some doubt. Most aquatic turtles will not feed on land, and will not be happy in your planter (unless you fill it with water ).

If it really is a NA box turtle, you should be able to keep it outdoors without a problem, in fact that's the best way to do it. No lamp needed, but it will need loose soil of leaves to burrow in when they hibernate. Don't expect to see it in the winter! I would not put it outside NOW, however, unless your temperatures are in the 60's or 70's, even then, be careful. You don't want it to be caught above ground during a cold snap. Turtles prepare for hibernation gradually, first they go off feed for several weeks to be sure their digestive tract is empty, then they seek out a place to bury themselves. You don't want to just pop them out there if it's cold outside. I have no idea what the climate is like where you live, but I'm guessing it's more mild that here in VA. It would probably be best to keep it indoors until spring and let it naturally cycle so it would be ready to hibernate next winter.

Box turtles are omnivores, eating a little of everything. Many keepers mix vegatables with canned dog food, but this is not ideal, as there is some concern as to the long term helth effects of this diet. There are many commercial diets on the market, but they vary in quality. This company - www.HerpNutrition.com offers a really good box turtle diet. They also enjoy the occasional fruit and live insects and worms. This is annother reason you need to find out what kind of turtle you have. Tortoises are herbivores, and will have major health problems if fed a box turtle diet.

Wade

 

[MizM]

SORRY!:8o I really don't know much about these guys, but here is his size and species:

Wc Russian Tortoise Approx 5"
Testudo Horsfieldii

He eats fruits, vegetables and occasional mealworms, but I'm told that I shouldn't give him too much of those!

He constantly digs in the substrate, so I know he will need something to burrow under!

Right now in Southern California, the low temps are about 40F at night. It should be warm enough by the beginning of March, that will give me time to prepare his new home!

Also, what is the best way to put "identification" on him? I've heard that painting on their shells can be toxic to them, but I would like to have name and phone # on him since he will be outside!

Thanks!!!

 

[scorpio]

Ahh.....a russian tort. Well, heres the scoop on them and their burrowing tendencies.

when it gets cold (around 35-40 F), they will burrow up to 8 feet down into the earth. If you plan on having it outside, make sure there are underground boundaries to prevent escapes. It could stay down there for up to 8 months of the year, and eventually it will dig upwards from its burrow and come to the surface during the warmest months of the year. I just keep my pair inside in a 40 gallon. But, since it seems like you want him outside, here < http://www.russiantortoise.net/pen with burrow.htm > is a link which shows how to make a pen with burrows which I think should discourage him from constructing other burrows.

Hope this helps.

http://www.russiantortoise.net/
http://www.tortoise.org/archives/russ.html
http://www.anapsid.org/russian2.html

You might find that care tips vary from website to website. The above links are the sources I trust the most for care.



And as for identification, find a non toxic permanent paint, or even better, a bright colored magic marker. I have not heard of them getting sick from paint on their shells.

 

[MizM]

Thanks much, very helpful!

8 FEET!

Wow, I'm changing his name to "Backhoe!"

 

[scorpio]

Yep, 8 feet. They rarealy dig this dep, but they are capable. Typical burrows will be under 6 feet.

You will find they are much more robust than what you would think for a tortoise. My Tortoise outruns my big fat hamster.

And also, where did you hear that they can be fed mealworms in small amounts

 

[MizM]

I don't really remember... t'was a long time ago!! Is that wrong.... should I not give them to him?:?

 

[scorpio]

Well, I havent heard it from any bonafide site, so I wouldnt do it. Feed it as many greens as it will take in 20 minutes daily.

 

[MizM]

Thanks! I printed out ALL the information on the above sites, I'm going to go home and study!

 

[Wade]

One method to mark him is to use the adhesive stickers people use on mailboxes. This method has been used by researches in the field studying aquatic turtles.

I think the bottom line on stuff like mealworms is that while a very small amount may not hurt, they don't need it either. Kind of like a human and candy bars...one a week is harmless, but dropping them from your diet entirely won't deprive you of anything.

I suspect wherever you heard mealworms suggested was getting it from an out-of-date source. Back in the bad old days, keepers fed herbiverous reptiles all kinds of animal protein. While they will eat it and live for awhile, it generally leads to shell and growth deformities, as well as diseases such as gout. Tortoise diets should be 100% vegetarian.

Also, is this a recent import or a long term captive? WC tortoises often arrive with a host of parsites. If you haven't already, I'd take it to the vet and get him checked out. Bring a fresh stool sample if possible.


Wade