Three-Toed Box Turtle
- Food: Commercial turtle diet, insects, worms, fruits, vegetables, dark leafy greens
- Difficulty Of Care: High Maintenance
- Comparable Breeds: Eastern Box Turtle, Florida Box Turtle
Does a box turtle make a good pet?
While common box turtles can make good pets, it’s not recommended that they be given as pets to children or first-time pet owners. This is because of the complexity of their care requirements and the fact that these turtles become stressed easily and don’t need to be carried everywhere or fiddled with all the time.
What type of food do box turtles eat mostly?
What Vegetables Can Box Turtles Eat?
- Radish Tops
- Romaine Lettuce
- Savoy
- Shredded Squashes
- Spinach
- Sweet Potatoes
- Swiss Chard
- Thawed Frozen Mixed Vegetables
- Turnip Tops
- Watercress
How do you take care of a box turtle?
- Make sure your terrarium’s water and air temperature is about 86 degrees Fahrenheit and that your baby turtle has access to both land and water.
- Make sure the water isn't too deep. ...
- Even the smallest turtles should have a terrarium or aquarium no smaller than 29 gallons, no shorter than 4 feet long, 18 inches wide and 18 inches tall.
When do you feed your box turtle?
What to Feed Your Box Turtle
- Vegetables and Fruits to Feed to Box Turtles. A wide variety of fruits and vegetables should be offered to your box turtle daily in order to provide a balanced diet.
- Insects to Feed to Box Turtles. ...
- Commercial Diets for Box Turtles. ...
- Vitamin and Mineral Supplements for Box Turtles. ...
What Should I Feed My 3 toed box turtle?
Whole live foods are ideal (earthworms, slugs, snails, mealworms, crickets, grasshoppers, small fish, etc) but cooked lean meats and low-fat, high-quality dog food can be added as a supplement.
Can three-toed box turtles eat lettuce?
Lettuce is very healthy for your box turtle to eat. It has little nutritional value and should be supplemented with bright vegetables and dark greens. Oranges: Yes. Your turtle may be disinterested in eating them, but they are still safe in their diet.
How long do 3 toed box turtles live in captivity?
The typical three-toed box turtle lifespan is around 30 to 40 years when bred in captivity. However, the lifespan of this reptile can vary greatly depending on where it comes from (and where it's kept). Three-toed box turtles living in the wild can live for up to 100 years!
What are box turtles favorite food?
Ideally the protein should be whole live foods like earthworms, mealworms, beetles, grubs, crickets, slugs and snails. Are attracted to brightly colored fruits and vegetables: tomato, squash, carrots, red bell peppers, strawberries, cantaloupe.
What human food can turtles eat?
They especially like leafy green veggies, so kale, collard greens, and mustard greens are both healthy and delicious for them. They'll also chow down on carrots, squash, green beans, and peas. As far as fruits go, you can give them bananas, apples, and pears, among other things.
Can 3 toed box turtles swim?
Yes, box turtles swim in shallow water. If the water is not too deep in ponds rivers, they are seen swimming in such water. In contrast to long webbed feet, box turtles have separate toes.
How often do you feed a three-toed box turtle?
Three-toed Box Turtle Food A variety of foods also help to ensure the turtle receives the nutrition it needs to remain healthy. An adult box turtle can be fed two or three times a week, while hatchlings or young turtles can be fed every other day.
Can I keep a box turtle I found?
Box turtles can make great pets if cared for properly. Before bringing any pet – reptile or other - home, be sure to do research to learn about its requirements, so that you can properly care for it. Most box turtles do not get very large (unlike tortoises).
What do you feed a turtle?
A lot of people feed their turtles with crackers and bread, which can be an example of a raw food. 2). Freeze-dried foods: Freeze-dried foods are perfect for turtles because they don’t get sick as easily as most other types of food.
What are the fruits that turtles eat?
The three most common types of fruit that are commonly eaten by turtles are banana, peach, and papaya. If your turtle has a favorite type of fruit it is important to know what fruits they can eat. Below is a brief description of what fruits they should eat and how often.
How do box turtles survive?
They can only survive for a short while without water.
Can turtles eat straight food?
Keep in mind that most turtles don’t like to eat it straight, so it needs to be warmed up first. 3). Dry food: This food is also great for turtles because it doesn’t cause them to get sick as quickly as other types of food. However, you will want to be careful with this food.
Do box turtles drink salt?
Box turtles have evolved in such a way that they do not live in warm areas; they live in cold regions. Another thing that box turtles like to drink is road salt. In the spring and summer months, a box turtle will come out of the burrow to seek out road salt. The box turtle must get the salt in order to survive.
Can turtles eat berries?
Also, if you have a turtle that enjoys berries, then berries should be the most limited type of food. If it grows into the size that it can tolerate, you can add more berries as you see fit. These foods are not the best options for turtles with special dietary needs.
Do turtles eat food?
That’s the average amount of food that most turtles eat. However, when the turtle starts showing signs of distress, then you will want to be more careful with the food that you feed it. The frequency of feeding depends on several things, such as the size of the turtle, its health, and how much food is left over.
What do you need for a 3 toed box turtle?
Your turtle is going to need a large, safe enclosure, a humid environment, plenty of fresh water sources and a balanced diet. Perhaps the most important aspect of three-toed box turtle care is to have lots of respect for their temperament (more on that later).
What to feed a turtle?
For the meaty portion of their diet, we suggest feeding them an assortment of items that includes earthworms, super worms, crickets or slugs. Expert Tip: We recommend feeding your adult turtle two or three times a week.
What temperature should a three toed turtle be?
The temperature gradient should be between 75 degrees and 88 degrees Fahrenheit (from one side of the habitat to the other). The temperature at night should never drop below 70 degrees. Ceramic heaters are an excellent choice for creating the warmer basking temperatures your three-toed box turtle loves.
Why are three toed box turtles so shy?
However, they are easily stressed and can become very nervous if they are not kept in a quiet and peaceful habitat. That’s why it is so critical to provide plenty of places for them to hide when they feel scared.
How big is a 3 toed turtle?
Average Size. The average size of an adult three-toed box turtle is between 3.5 inches and 6 inches long (measured by their carapace). Hatchlings will usually have a carapace size of around 1.5 inches. Females tend to be slightly larger than males, but their build is very similar.
What color is a three toed box turtle?
The three-toed box turtle has a high-domed carapace that is an earthy shade of rich olive greenish-brown with some yellow markings. The body of this turtle is where you will often see a bit more color. The skin of the three-toed turtle is a brownish color with yellow spots.
How long do box turtles live?
The typical three-toed box turtle lifespan is around 30 to 40 years when bred in captivity. However, the lifespan of this reptile can vary greatly depending on where it comes from (and where it’s kept).
Where do three toed turtles come from?
Found from Missouri south to Texas and Alabama, the three-toed box turtle is named for the three toes on its hind feet; the other box turtles have four. These handsome, classic-looking turtles are native to the United States and are among the most popular pets for turtle enthusiasts. However, three-toed box turtles (and box turtles in general) ...
How much space do turtles need?
Each turtle in your terrarium needs at least three square feet of floor space for every eight inches of shell length. Juveniles need an area that is at least two square feet in dimension. Both indoors and outdoors, they should have easy access to available hiding spots and loose-leaf litter in which to burrow.
How to keep turtles from getting burnt?
Adding a weak heater above the water bowl will also cause some evaporation for higher humidity. Make sure to always place heaters safely away from your turtle as they do get hot enough to cause burns. Add a hygrometer to the enclosure to ensure that the humidity stays at around 70 to 80 percent.
Why are box turtles declining?
Box turtle populations are declining around the world; many U.S. states protect box turtle populations and have laws against collecting box turtles from the wild . Unfortunately, thousands of box turtles are still collected annually to supply the demands of the pet trade. Most of these turtles (which live for decades in the wild ) will die within 12 months of capture as all wild-caught specimens do not adjust well to captivity and tend to die from stress.
How long do box turtles live?
Life Expectancy: Up to 100 years in the wild; 30 to 40 years if bred in captivity and receiving proper care; only one year if transferred from the wild. Three-toed box turtles have a high, domed carapace (dorsal shell) that is usually olive-brown with some yellow markings.
How tall should a turtle enclosure be?
Build your outdoor enclosures on well-draining soil with non-toxic, rot-resistant walls at least 20 inches tall; the wall barrier should also extend down, at least 10 inches underground to prevent your turtles from digging an escape. The minimum size is four feet wide and four feet long but doubling the length to eight feet is preferred.
What causes a turtle to drool?
Respiratory infections are common in these turtles. The signs of a respiratory infection include open-mouthed breathing, wheezing, nasal discharge, and drooling. These can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi, but certain conditions make it more likely that an infection will take hold in your turtle: some combination of a deficiency in vitamin A, enclosure air that is too cold or too dry, and malnutrition.
Male vs Female
It is quite easy to determine the sex of a box turtle. Compared to females the males have longer thicker tales, shorter claes and have a slightly curved shape. A female will on average be larger than a male and the colors will be much more muted.
Identification
The easiest way to identify a three-toed box turtle is by, you guessed it! Checking how many toes they have on their hind limbs – the three toes are something unique to the species as other box turtles have four.
As a Pet
The three-toed box turtle is a popular pet for turtle enthusiasts throughout the US but these turtles aren’t for the inexperienced turtle owner or for families with young children.
Lifespan
In the wild a three-toed box turtle can live up to 100 years and some turtles in captivity have been known to live well above 70 years old.
The Expected Lifespan
Though some have been known to clock in an impressive amount of years, the average captive bred three-toed will likely live for 30-40 years – which is certainly a big commitment!
Adaptations
In order to protect themselves from predators, these turtles are able to pull their heads, legs, and tails into their shells. Box turtles as a species have the additional ability to clamp their shells completely shut and because the shell is made of bone, very few predators can successfully prey on an adult turtle.
Breeding Season
The breeding of captive three-toed box turtles can be easily achieved if they are kept in their natural climate. The breeding season is usually between spring and summer though it is possible for females who have not bred for as long as four year to still produce viable eggs due to their ability to retain sperm.
Three-toed Box Turtle ( Terrapene carolina triunguis)
Three-toed box turtles are 5-7″/13-18cm long, terrestrial reptiles with a domed shell, short legs, and a uniquely hinged plastron that allows them to tightly seal themselves inside when they feel threatened (thus the common name, “box” turtle).
Shopping List
These are products I personally recommend for setting up a functional three-toed box turtle enclosure. Because the equipment you will need varies based on whether it is being housed indoors or outdoors, this shopping list is for setting up an indoor enclosure for adult three-toed box turtle.
Housing
Three-toed box turtles, like other reptiles, require an enclosure that is large enough to give them adequate opportunity to explore, forage, thermoregulate, and generally exercise natural behaviors. And this species is very active! They will use however much space you can give them.
Lighting & UVB
Three-toed box turtles are diurnal, which means that they are most active during the day. This also means that they need exposure to bright light and UVB during the day to maintain good mental and physical health. Light sources should be left on for 14 hours/day during summer and 10 hours/day during winter to replicate natural seasonal rhythms.
Heating
Humans are warm-blooded, which means that our body temperature is regulated automatically. Turtles, however, are cold-blooded (poikilothermic), which means that they have to move between areas of different temperatures to regulate their body temperature. In the wild, box turtles warm up by basking in a sunny spot.
Humidity
As a mesic species, three-toed box turtles do best in an environment with higher humidity levels and plenty of moisture. Target an average of 60-80%, with daytime humidity never dropping below 51%. You can monitor humidity levels with a digital probe hygrometer with the probe placed in the middle of the enclosure.
Substrate
For three-toed box turtles, it’s best to use a naturalistic substrate that is similar to what is found in their native habitat. In other words, you will need some kind of richly organic, moisture-retentive soil. This substrate should be layered at least 4″ deep in indoor enclosures, and 12″ deep in outdoor enclosures.
Where can I find a three toed box turtle?
The species can also be found from southern Missouri and southeastern Kansas to Louisiana. It is not uncommon to find hybrids of the three-toed box turtle and other box turtles. These hybrids are difficult to differentiate from the common box turtle. The three-toed box turtle can also be found outside its geographical range, ...
What kind of light do you use for a 3 toed box turtle?
The Zoo Med Reptisun is an excellent UVB light choice. You can also use mercury vapor light. These provide UV light as well as heat.
How to get a turtle to associate with food?
As the turtle gets used to your presence, it would come to associate you with food. When it comes to feeding, stick to a routine. This allows you to notice any change in appetite. For turtles kept indoors, sprinkle calcium and vitamin D3 powder on the foods fed them.
How big should a 3 toed box turtle enclosure be?
This is where they are most comfortable. The enclosure needs to be at least 6 sq ft in size.
How far can a three toed box turtle be found?
They can be found from sea level up to 4,300 feet (1,300 m). The three-toed box turtle is about the same length as the eastern box turtle, but with a much narrower carapace.
How long do box turtles live?
The long-lived box turtle can grow to be 120 years and more. Their exact lifespan is unknown. In captivity, they generally live much shorter. Expect your turtle to live to be 40 years.
What is the easiest turtle to care for?
The three-toed box turtle is one of the easiest pet turtles to care for. They live long and are easy to feed. While they are pond turtles, they spend most of their days on land.
