How to Care for Box Turtle

Turtles are cute, tame and fascinating animals, each with their own distinctive personality. Turtles can die in captivity due to negligence, which is sad. If you are committed to caring for a turtle, you can grow and live together for decades.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pet box turtle
• If housed indoors - provide a large enclosure
• If housed outdoors - build a fence that is turtle proof to prevent climbing
• Turtle food (read article)
• Low-fat, low protein cat/dog food (optional)
• Routine physical check with reptile veterinarian

1. Take your new pet turtle to a reptile veterinarian to check for potential signs of disease, stress and dehydration.

2. The turtle enclosure should be very large if you are keeping your pet turtle indoors. Provide branches, grass, and leaves throughout the enclosure so your box turtle can have some privacy. Turtles, particularly while eating, like privacy.

3. If you are housing your box turtle in a fenced yard, make sure it is turtle-proof as turtles are escape artists and can be good at climbing.
   
   Turtles love to have leave piles to burrow through and low bushes to provide them a hiding place. Build a shaded area with a small pool where your turtle can take a relaxing swim.

4. Box turtles are omnivorous; they eat both insects and plants. 1/3 of your turtle diet should be plant based, and about 50% of their food source be commercial and with the remainder of animal-based products.

5. Good plants/vegetables to feed are: beet tops, collard and mustard greens, turnip, spinach, dandelions, kale, romaine lettuce, chard, sweet potatoes, zucchini, carrots, yellow squash, alfalfa, mushrooms, tomatoes, green bell peppers, peas, and broccoli.

6. Good animal protein can be obtained from: earthworms, silk worms, crickets, snails/slugs, grasshoppers, beetles and chopped pinkie mice. These can be bought in pet stores.
   
   Note: feed young turtles daily. Adults are fed less often, like every other day would be enough as they grow older.

7. Keep fresh water available at all times. A filtration system is recommended to keep the water clean. You should change drinking water everyday for your turtle if not using a filtering system.

8. You must provide direct sun outdoors, or full-spectrum lighting if indoors (preferably on a timer), at least 10 hours total day and night.
   
   Turtles need vitamin D and calcium for strong, healthy shell and sun; full-spectrum light (ultraviolet rays) to kill microorganisms that live on their skin.
   
   In the winter, move your turtle indoors and use radiant heat source or sun lamp to keep your box turtle warm in the enclosure.
   
   Warning: do not install glass/plexiglass or plastic sheet filtering out UV lighting.

9. Some box turtles will show a decreased appetite and activity in the fall and winter. This is normal and they should be allowed to hibernate only if healthy. Consult a veterinarian for specific hibernation information and other health issues.

10. When picking up your box turtle, use both hands and place your fingers beneath its feet and under-shell so it feels secure.
    
    Turtles can transmit disease such as Salmonella, so wash your hands after handling or after cleaning their enclosure. Also, keep your pet turtle away from human food and utensils.

11. 
    American box turtle

    Box turtles are one of the most popular amphibian pets. This is mostly due to their easy-to-care-for nature and are easy to love, too. Nevertheless, box turtles do need proper and attentive care no matter how easy-going as they seem to be. A box turtle can live 20-40 years and over 100 years is possible. If you take good care for your turtle, you and your pet can keep each other company for decades.

Tips & Warnings

• Low-fat, low-protein dog or cat food can be fed in small amounts to your box turtle.
• A filtration system is recommended to keep the water clean. You should change drinking water everyday for your turtle if not using a filtering system.
• A box turtle can live 20-40 years; over 100 years is possible.
• Protect your box turtle from dogs and other predators. Children can also hurt your turtle if mishandled.
• Temperature extremes can kill your pet turtle.
• Loud noises can scare these timid pets.
• Keep turtles away from artificial grass/plants, beads and other small household items, as they may accidentally ingest them and can cause blockage in digestive track. Not to mention the effects from chemicals in these items.

Resources

• Box Turtle Information
• Caring for a Pet Turtle

[grove]

on 3/28/2009 Great article! I have one of these guys and he's very low-key.