Box Turtle Care Sheet

Below is a Box turtle care sheet based upon our extensive experiences with these incredible, long-lived, and personable turtles.

chameleon care sheet

Box Turtle
Terrapene sp.

These terrestrial turtles are members of the pond turtle family, and vary greatly in appearance. There are Eastern, Gulf Coast, Florida, Mexican, Three-toed, Ornate, Desert, Yucatan, and Spotted Box turtle species.

Range: Box turtles originate entirely within North America, mostly within the United States. North Carolina and Tennessee honor the Eastern box turtle as their state reptile, while Missouri voted the Three-toed as its state reptile, and Kansas named the Ornate box turtle its state reptile.

Physical Description: The coloration and patterns vary greatly from species to species, however, the general dome-shaped shells are standard. Their overall behavior is essentially the same across all varieties.

Size: Generally their shells reach lengths of 4-7 inches as adults. Babies have shell lengths of 1-inch to 1.5-inches. Females are generally larger than males.

Behavior: Babies and adults are both active animals, and feed readily throughout the day. They avoid high heat and dry conditions. They learn their keepers voice and appearance as well, helping form a bond, usually through food offerings.

Enclosure: Adult Box turtles require a hide spot (humidity is very beneficial), water dish, and basking spot with UVB lighting (for proper shell and bone growth). It’s important that box turtles are not allowed to spend time in a dry environment—their eyes will temporarily seal shut. Prevention is worth a pound of cure in this regard. Eye infections can ensue if you allow dry eyes to persist.

We keep our baby Box turtles in an enclosure with damp sphagnum moss on one end, a water pool in the middle, and a basking spot on the other end. Babies tend to hide for periods of time, usually buried within the substrate, which is totally normal.

Heating & Humidity: Humidity is beneficial to their overall health; mandatory really.

Lighting: UVB lighting is mandatory for proper shell and bone growth.

Feeding: Babies tend to be more carnivorous, consuming mealworms and waxworms very readily. However, adults tend to be more omnivorous, meaning they eat both plant and animal material. This includes leafy greens, grapes, carrot, and various insects and worms.

Breeding: Box turtles generally will breed without provocation when kept together in outdoor enclosures (the seasons trigger their breeding behavior). One male can service 4-5 females without issue. 4-6 eggs are buried in the dirt and generally hatch within two to three months.

Price Range: We offer babies to adults, priced from $74.99 to $124.99, and all are captive bred. Please peruse our available Box turtles.

Species Notes: The lifespan of Box turtles can exceed 100 years!

Summary: Box turtles are perhaps the most beloved pet turtle species in the world, due to their personable nature, long lifespan, and captive success.

Copyright 2015 - BackwaterReptiles.com



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Why buy our reptiles?

We offer exotic reptiles for sale online at absolute rock-bottom prices, which means we make these fascinating animals available to you affordably as pets, or even to start your own reptile breeding project. We are reptile enthusiasts who believe captive breeding is integral to the future of the market, as it not only helps protect wild herp populations, but is an incredibly rewarding experience that tends to intensify one's passion for these amazing prehistoric creatures. Whether you buy a snake, lizard, turtle, tortoise, or alligator, we are driven to provide the highest quality live reptiles for sale.

Why buy our amphibians?

Amphibians are generally slower-moving than reptiles, and have uniquely moist skin which means they are never far from a source of water. Their life cycle is nothing short of incredible: they hatch in water, spend weeks or months in metamorphosis, then become either terrestrial or remain primarily water bound. Some salamanders even breathe through their skin! Our live amphibians for sale online include frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts. Some are huge, some are small, and virtually all are amazing to observe in captivity. When you buy amphibians from us, you can rest assured they are fully guaranteed to arrive alive and in great condition. Why not start an amphibian breeding project today?

Why buy our reptile feeders?

Reptile and amphibian food should be varied, which is why we offer an array of feeder insects for sale. It's always far more cost effective to buy feeder insects in bulk, which often saves up to 70% off pet store prices. Plus, the feeders are delivered right to your doorstep. We offer live crickets for sale, as well as dubia roaches, mealworms, wax worms, nightcrawlers, and now even lizards, all at the lowest possible prices. Our reptile and amphibian feeder insects and lizards include a guarantee of live arrival.

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