Eastern Box Turtle care?

[TillyTortoise]

Could you link me to some good care sheets for Terrapene carolina carolina please?

How do they fare outdoors in the UK?

Any pictures of setups are most welcome also.

[sandy]

I keep three groups of boxies all eastern three toeds.
I have one group of three males, that I have had since 2005 and hibernate outside in there enclosure, which has no extra heat. This year they will hibernate in my greenhouse, as the last two years have been really hard Winters.
One of the other groups consists of one male and three females, I have had them three years and they hibernate in the GH. The third group, I have had five years and consists of a young female and an adult male and female. They also hibernate in the GH.
They are outside 24/7 once the threat of frosts have gone.
Their enclosures are well planted and are in full sun first thing in the mornings. You do have to find the right site in a garden for them.

[Kirkie]

Ross,

You are going to find as many varying caresheets for Carolina as there are for tortoises. Many different methods and opinions. The vast majority are published in the states and I've found that some of it (especially the mantra that they must be outdoors) doesn't work in the UK (and I'm in a warm bit). Sandy does well with it but I've had a male outside for a few weeks recently and now he's got an upper respiratory infection.

*I don't keep Carolina Carolina but I do keep Three Toed. The youngsters I'll only put out when the night time temperatures are up around "tortoise temperatures" and then they get a heavily planted, shaded enclosure. I've found deep plastic tubs to ve a good indoor housing, with 6-8 inches of a potting compost/sphagnum moss substrate. Plenty of hides, they are shy creatures. I'm using a viv for my Ornata hatchlings as it creates a stable warm, humid environment.

They need constant access to clean water and humid retreats at all times.
My adults live in setups like this indoors

http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...ad.php?t=50719
Deep soil up to a foot deep.*


Some books worth obtaining are

Complete North American Box Turtle [Carl J Franklin,David C Killpack]*

North American Box Turtles: A Natural History
C.K. Dodd

Box Turtles (Complete Herp Care) Tess Cook

[TillyTortoise]

Thanks for the information both.

I have an area of the garden that gets direct sun most of the morning but dulls into the afternoon. I though this might be an idea spot for an enclosure.

Will look into getting those books Dave, thanks.

[Box girl]

We keep all species of box tort and keep none outside. Ours are in open vivs with large water bowls. If you want to breed then you won't find the eggs if you keep them outside.
We don't hibernate but give a cold time.
There is a lot of info to be found on www.ukchelonia.info/caresheets/others

[sandy]

Originally Posted by TillyTortoise

Thanks for the information both.

I have an area of the garden that gets direct sun most of the morning but dulls into the afternoon. I though this might be an idea spot for an enclosure.

Will look into getting those books Dave, thanks.

Thats the sort of conditions my three males have, that hibernate outside. I live in Kent so temps are reasonable for boxies. They have the early morning sun, and get shade in the afternoon from a fence.
Oddly the group with a youngster and two adults, have the reverse, shade in the mornings, and sun in the afternoon. This enclosure has lots of shady plants. And these three are the more active of both groups.
They seem happy and problem free, so I am leaving well alone:0) Although they have different sun/shade days.

[boxman]

Originally Posted by Box girl

We keep all species of box tort and keep none outside. Ours are in open vivs with large water bowls. If you want to breed then you won't find the eggs if you keep them outside.
We don't hibernate but give a cold time.
There is a lot of info to be found on www.ukchelonia.info/caresheets/others

The above is not a link, but a menu path. The link is:

http://www.ukchelonia.info/ESFterrap...rapenecare.htm