How To Take Care Of A Eastern Box Turtle

Vitamin supplements containing minerals and calcium are also recommended.

How to take care of a eastern box turtle. In most cases however you will need to create an outdoor pen. Eastern box turtles need water both for drinking and for soaking in. You can also place the box turtle indoors as long as there is an appropriate habitat. For the substrate combine topsoil with leaves so your turtle has something to dig into and mist the enclosure daily so it stays moist.

That s not to say the wouldn t enjoy this in their turtle tank habitat or living space. Box turtles on average only grow to 5 to 8 inches long 13 20cm you can keep a box turtle in a 20 gallon tank 76 litters or a couple of them in about a 60 gallon tank 227 litters they are non aquatic and don t need a pool or pond if you don t have the space. The eastern box turtle prefers a humid environment that mimics a moist forest floor. To care for your box turtle build an outdoor enclosure out of wooden planks that s at least 4 feet by 6 feet and bigger for more than one turtle.

Place a large saucer or a dish no more than 1 inch 2 5 cm deep in your turtle s enclosure and fill it with filtered bottled or treated water free from chlorine. Maintain at least 70 humidity with daily misting. This species usually drinks water right off the ground when it is raining but if the purina naturals mix is being fed to them water is very important since the dry pellets demand a lot of moisture to digest. Alternatively build an indoor enclosure out of plywood or concrete.

The size should be about 4 8 feet. Placing the shallow pool of water in the turtle s habitat also helps with humidity. As they mature the box turtles will do best when kept in outdoor pens at least if you live where the weather permits this but when they are under a year old it is best to keep the little turtles in an indoor enclosure. Dominant males will fight and only one is suggested for an enclosure to avoid injury.

Right off the bat your hatchling eastern box turtle will obviously need a home in which to thrive. Keep the water away from a direct source of heat to keep it fresh and cool. Safe plant matter for box turtles are grated carrots grated squash blackberries blueberries dandelion leaves kale pumpkin strawberries mulberries tomato zucchini romaine lettuce and endive.