Boxies

sandy · 10-06-2006, 10:40 AM

Not sure if you class them as semi aquatics.

I have two boxies which over the last three years are beginning to show some personality. They had never been hibernated in the last six years that I new of before I had them. I decided they hibernated in the wild so mine would. After checking with some US keepers I knew as to the sort of climate and temps they were used to in the wild. I dug a large hole to accomadate the large tub they came to me in. Filled it with garden soil, with a mulch on top. Then put a coldframe over the top. With an enclosure around it, so they had acsess to the outside as they wanted to. So the first year is was fingers crossed as to whether they would survive hibernating outside. Which they did, I had a hands off approach for the first six months after this, as both were very timid. They also had had a lot of new changes in a short space of time.
I then handled them a little, so as not to frighten them. Second hibernation went well too. Since then there has been no looking back. They now eat a varied diet of snails, woodlice, slugs, fruit and veg. And are not quite so timid.

**sarah** · 10-06-2006, 04:29 PM

Thats great sandy, I must say turtles arnt really my thing i don't know anything about them. Have you got any pictures?

sandy · 07-07-2006, 11:09 PM

Boxies are not really turtles<g> they dont live in water, just sit in it.

Henry-flash · 07-07-2006, 11:10 PM

lol. Fancy sharing some pics sandy?

shootinglou79 · 07-07-2006, 11:11 PM

so, are they 60 torts or 60% turtles

, be interesting to know

sandy · 08-07-2006, 09:32 AM

I would say 90% tortoise and 10% turtle. They do eat slugs snails woodlice anything that crawls.
Rotting fruit, mushrooms, meal worms. So their diet is varied but meat eating.
Over the last three years they are getting more and more friendly, not boxing up as soon as I pass
or pick them up.

Becks · 08-07-2006, 10:48 AM

sandy they are wonderfull babes i have never seen a box turtle and didnt know about there habbitat or feeding up to now,
they sound pritty straight forward to care for and they are really lovely looking ..
are they easy to look after ..
i always pictured box turtle as somethink that lived in water 24/7 and was shaped like a box

is there anythink more you could tell us about these beautiful boxies..
im very interested in learning about them ..
im not into keeping them right now but would be gr8 to learn as u never know in the future ,when the kids spead there wings.
luv becks xxxxxxx

shootinglou79 · 08-07-2006, 11:24 AM

great piccys thnx sandy

sandy · 08-07-2006, 01:20 PM

Becks

They are far easier than tortoises, mine live outside all year round. They have a very large black container
that they had come with them. Set in the ground, with soil in it. Then a layer of leaves and mulch. With
a coldframe over the top of it. They have an area around this to get outside. They just bury down in the
soil over winter, occasionally popping up in warmer parts of the winter. I have done this since I have had them.
I just really have to keep their water topped up and feed.

Becks · 08-07-2006, 01:25 PM

hi sandy
thanks for ur reply that sounds good to me maybe 1 day i will have some of my own ...
i think they are wonderful..
luv becks xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

10-06-2006, 10:40 AM	#1
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	Boxies Not sure if you class them as semi aquatics. I have two boxies which over the last three years are beginning to show some personality. They had never been hibernated in the last six years that I new of before I had them. I decided they hibernated in the wild so mine would. After checking with some US keepers I knew as to the sort of climate and temps they were used to in the wild. I dug a large hole to accomadate the large tub they came to me in. Filled it with garden soil, with a mulch on top. Then put a coldframe over the top. With an enclosure around it, so they had acsess to the outside as they wanted to. So the first year is was fingers crossed as to whether they would survive hibernating outside. Which they did, I had a hands off approach for the first six months after this, as both were very timid. They also had had a lot of new changes in a short space of time. I then handled them a little, so as not to frighten them. Second hibernation went well too. Since then there has been no looking back. They now eat a varied diet of snails, woodlice, slugs, fruit and veg. And are not quite so timid. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

07-07-2006, 11:09 PM	#3
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	Boxies are not really turtles<g> they dont live in water, just sit in it. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

07-07-2006, 11:10 PM	#4
Henry-flash Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 9,304	lol. Fancy sharing some pics sandy? __________________ Peter Keeping: Testudo hermanni, Testudo graeca (graeca & ibera ), Testudo horsfieldi, Astrochelys radiata, Malacochersus tornieri and Kinixys belliana. The North West Tortoise Group

08-07-2006, 09:32 AM	#6
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	I would say 90% tortoise and 10% turtle. They do eat slugs snails woodlice anything that crawls. Rotting fruit, mushrooms, meal worms. So their diet is varied but meat eating. Over the last three years they are getting more and more friendly, not boxing up as soon as I pass or pick them up. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

08-07-2006, 10:48 AM	#7
Becks Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset UK Posts: 4,035	sandy they are wonderfull babes i have never seen a box turtle and didnt know about there habbitat or feeding up to now, they sound pritty straight forward to care for and they are really lovely looking .. are they easy to look after .. i always pictured box turtle as somethink that lived in water 24/7 and was shaped like a box is there anythink more you could tell us about these beautiful boxies.. im very interested in learning about them .. im not into keeping them right now but would be gr8 to learn as u never know in the future ,when the kids spead there wings. luv becks xxxxxxx __________________ horsfields ,redfoots ,southern and northan morrocans, map turtle . http://www.redfoottortoiseplace.piczo.com

10-06-2006, 04:29 PM	#2
sarah Administrator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Newcastle-Under-Lyme Posts: 11,914	Thats great sandy, I must say turtles arnt really my thing i don't know anything about them. Have you got any pictures?

07-07-2006, 11:11 PM	#5
shootinglou79 Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,743	so, are they 60 torts or 60% turtles , be interesting to know

08-07-2006, 11:24 AM	#8
shootinglou79 Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,743	great piccys thnx sandy

08-07-2006, 01:20 PM	#9
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	Becks They are far easier than tortoises, mine live outside all year round. They have a very large black container that they had come with them. Set in the ground, with soil in it. Then a layer of leaves and mulch. With a coldframe over the top of it. They have an area around this to get outside. They just bury down in the soil over winter, occasionally popping up in warmer parts of the winter. I have done this since I have had them. I just really have to keep their water topped up and feed. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

08-07-2006, 01:25 PM	#10
Becks Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset UK Posts: 4,035	hi sandy thanks for ur reply that sounds good to me maybe 1 day i will have some of my own ... i think they are wonderful.. luv becks xxxxxxxxxxxxxx __________________ horsfields ,redfoots ,southern and northan morrocans, map turtle . http://www.redfoottortoiseplace.piczo.com

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