Identifying Box Turtles

Series Summary

Turtles might not be the high-energy pets that cats and dogs are, but they require just as much care to their environment and diet to live long and happy lives. Turtles are among the oldest reptile species, and when cared for properly, a turtle can have a very long lifespan. This should definitely be taken into account if you’ve considered owning a turtle or giving a turtle as a gift.

In this free video series, our reptile expert will teach you how to care for box turtles. This common species of turtle makes a great pet due to their docile nature and ability to bond with people. You will learn about box turtle sizes and growth rates, as well as how to hibernate a box turtle. You will also learn how to clean a box turtle cage and how to fill the cage with necessary accessories. Finally, get information on keeping a box turtle healthy and happy in your home.

Video Transcript

"This is my box turtle. She's a Florida box turtle, this species is actually protected in Florida, but I happened to attain her because she's a rescue. Now there are four different types of turtles currently for sale in the pet trade. Well, there are different types, several more different types, but rarely ever are you going to come across those. The most common are the four, one is called the three-toed box turtle, one is called the gulf coast box turtle, and then there is the ornate and the eastern. Now the characteristics that make her a box turtle, are if you look down here, she's hinged on the bottom of her shell. The bottom of her shell is called the plastron. Now she's hinged right here, which makes it possible for her to withdraw inside of her shell and then seal herself in almost like a box, which is why they're called box turtles. Now, this top section here is called the carapace, its basically the whole top shell here. Now each plate on top of her shell is called a scoot and this is something that you want to keep your eye on, if there is ever any shell damage or infections or hemorrhaging underneath the shell. These individual plates here are what you're going to be watching for to make sure that they're symmetrical and they don't have any bulging. Now, generally box turtles make very good pets, they have great personalities, they like to be with people, they are easy to hand-feed, they enjoy company. They are a little bit harder to keep than most species of turtles, however, its well worth it. It's sad, but oftentimes box turtles will perish within six months of purchase, simply because the care is not completely understood."