My North American Box Turtle

[Crighton's Mum]

Hi, I did originally post this in the other tortoise section but had no response then found this topic area!

I have recently been given a North American Box turtle. I am very new to tortoise keeping but have bought a dozen books. There is so much conflicting information out there. I would be grateful for any tips or advice from anyone!! I was prepared for a Hingeback!!!!!

I was originally told my tortoise was a South American Hingeback but could not find any info. He had been treated this way for about 6years. I sent photos to the tortoise trust who returned with a reply that he was not a hingeback but is indeed a box turtle!!

He has been seen by the vet who is happy with his condition although he has three areas of shell rot which I am now treating with Betadine.

The one problem I am finding is that he eats very little if at all. His old diet was Cabbage, Chicken and banana. I now know this is not suitable and so he now has a very varied diet. The only thing he really enjoyed was meal worms but the vet has said to restrict how many he has and how often because he put on to much weight too quickly!!

[sandy]

I have limited experience with boxies, but do have two.
Where are you UK or US?
I feed chopped up carrots, mushrooms, fruit slugs, snails. Plus meal worms.
I know Piglet on here recommends a rotting log, which will attract insects. A great idea.
They also need a bath, I use a deepish tray, about three to four inchs deep, 12x18 inchs long
wide. Which they love.
I hope this helps.

[Crighton's Mum]

I'm in the uk, down in dorset/New forest. I have tried sliced/diced,grated and whole carrots with no result. Doesn't acknowledge mushrooms. Haven't tried slugs and snail because Ican't find any at the mo. He loves meal worms which was a new experience, but has now put on too much weight. My vet recomends twice a week. He does have a bath in his viv which is a terracotta plant saucer so will try a bigger bath forhim.

Thanks so much it's a good start!

[sandy]

Well I live in Kent, my boxies live outside all year round. They hibernate outside too<g>.
I took them on three or four years ago, they had been kept inside for the previous few years.
I talked to a few US members who kept boxies, they told me we had the ideal climate for boxies.
So I decided they would sink or swim outside. I did join the box turtle list, but they have mostly
US members and do have a different attitude to chelonia keeping. But some quite useful info.
I have just increased the size of my outdoor enclosure, and I have seen a very marked attitude
from them. Being more active, and out and about. Where as before they sort of sculked about<g>.
Yesterday night for the first time I saw one go for a dip in the bath. I found it all facinating.

You can see one boxie just in front of the coldframe top right.

[piglet]

Hi There is very little i can add to Sandys excellent advice , except try and get your boxie outdoors in the sunshine when possible , i now the summer is coming to a close but there are a few weeks left yet and boxies can tollerate cooler temps than most tortoises.
Next season try and accomadate the boxie out doors on a more permanent basis looking at hibernation towards next winter
You can try lean strips of lambs heart fat removed if your boxie excepts this try dicng it tiny and mixing with some fruit and weedy greens or flowers plenty of limestone on also ,they rarely turn there nose up at heart .
Waxmoth grubs and black crickets are also greedily taken as are pink mouse pups .
I find mine adore snails and earth worms the most.
Darren