How to Breed Box Turtles

Box turtles, common to North America and Asia, are omnivores with a domed shell. Their North American habitats, mainly in the Southern U.S., are slowly being destroyed by farmland and construction. Box turtles are plucked from the wild as pets and this further threatens their natural breeding habits. You can breed box turtles at home by following a few simple rules.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mating box or area
• Moist soil
• Vermiculite
• Container for eggs

1. Breed one pair of mature turtles. Box turtles breed when they are five years old or later.

2. Nourish box turtles while breeding. Their diet consists of fruits and vegetables, roots, flowers and fish. Female box turtles need calcium and vitamin D3 during mating season.

3. Fix a mating area. It should be 12 to 16 inches deep and consist of moss or damp soil. An outdoor area is best. Turtles lay between 2 and 7 eggs, or "clutch," at a time so make sure there's ample space to accommodate this.

4. Take eggs out of the box immediately after laying. Do not turn them over. Mark them for identification purposes with charcoal.

5. Incubate the eggs in a separate box with a mixture of water and vermiculite. Dig a spot for each egg. Leave enough space so they will not stick together.

6. Seal the container, leaving a few air holes. The temperature should not be over 80 degrees. Hatching will occur in 2 to 3 months

Tips & Warnings

• Don't breed box turtles unless you have secured good homes from them beforehand.

Resources

• Learn more at the Turtlecare.net website.