I was curious as to who else here has a box turtle and what species. I have recently become the owner of a GORGEOUS male eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina). I have never seen one, in person or anywhere on the internet (even at Google) that is as brilliantly colored as he is Orange and black, with blood red eyes.

Anyway, I've studied up on box turtles many times, so I think I've got everything down, and I've cared for them before (though none were actually mine). I was just wondering what anyone else's experiences with these turtles has been. What do you feed yours? Does it accept the turtle pellets at all?

Right now my guy eats about 60% animal matter, and 40% plant matter. The animal bit is crickets, grasshoppers, mealworms, zophobas, cockroaches, slugs, and earthworms. As for plant matter, he's been eating mostly collard greens and bok choy, with grapes, banana, and yellow squash. I throw in some random veggies and fruit now and then too. I was thinking of including box turtle pellets in his diet as well, and was also wondering if anyone feeds theres dog food at all. I've heard of people using lean beef and low-fat dog food to add to the diet. Does anyone feed there's alfalfa or timothy hay?

I'm getting him a 55 gallon tank as soon as my checks come in the mail. lol, I have no credit card, debit card, ATM card, or check card, and my bank is a local one back home in ND. I recently ran out of checks, so I have no money til my new ones come in the mail Anyway, he's getting a 55 gal, and a MV light soon. Right now he lives in a big plastic tub with a fluorescent UVB. I'd like to put him in an outdoor enclosure once I move (which SHOULD be in Sept), but by that time it may start getting colder out, so I'll have to keep him indoors anyway. He does get let outside to walk around though. PICS will come soon. I need to borrow my friend's camera again

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+5 bonus points to whoever finds me a job!

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." - John Benfield

I have a total of six boxies but I'm still pretty inexperienced by comparison to the breeders/keepers I get info from.

What I've learned:

- Some use dog food, either moistened or out of can.
- Some use "Trout Chow"
- I don't find too many using turtle pellets, but who knows why.
- I can't see anything wrong with using live food plus fruits/veggies dusted with Box Turtle feeder dust from Sandfire. That's my ultimate plan, but I want to try the canned dog food too.
- They all have different preferences, the turtles I mean, about their food favorites.
- It's okay to hibernate them outdoors, I'm planning to, even under a bunch of snow in frigid Chicago! (I am nervous about it but I've got some pretty experienced people guiding me.)

Here is a pic of my outdoor enclosure and a quick and relatively inexpensive indoor pen I made from pine boards, plywood and plastic sheeting, along with a few pics of my new clan members...

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2.4.0 Eastern Box Turtle
1.0.0 Russian Rat Snake
1.1.1 Gargoyle Gecko

I have kept a Terrapene carolina carolina for the past 5 years or so. I just love turtles.

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Regards,
Dominick
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"Do you watch too much television? Did you do so as a toddler? Evidence tonight that it could be the cause of learning disorders, like attention deficit and hyperact-Ooooh, a kitty!" - Keith Olbermann

Hey Matt, I have a Malayan Box Turtle. Pretty much doesn't apply here though, they're more aquatic than the Easterns. They prefer shallow water to eat and wade in, they're lousy swimmers. Mine eats only turtle pellets, she is 25 years old and I guess too used to the pellets to try greens. I've had her for about 5 months. Here's a pic: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a8/...e/d9b68193.jpg

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Val

http://www.reptilerescuerichmond.org

lol, well I just got Diablo/Pyro (he has 2 names at the moment) his new tank. Its a 75 gallon. I'm waiting for my Mercury Vapor to come in so I can buy it and have it shipped out here, cause none of the stores around here sell UVB lights. So far my guy eats mealworms like his life depends on it (well, it sort of does I guess). But, he doesn't really touch his greens or veggies. Any advice? I'm not used to an animal refusing part of its diet, I'm too accustomed to insectivores, and my aquatic turtles eat their veggies just fine.

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+5 bonus points to whoever finds me a job!

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." - John Benfield

I have a little box turtle but I havnt had her long. She only eats greens if I put in a whole leaf and if she's in the mood to eat it. mosty she eats rep-box turtle pellets. she loves worms and crickets. slices of strawberry and apple are taken with no problem. im going to try finely shopping her greens in the food processer and mixing them in with her pellets to get more fresh food into her. mine seems to decide on her food by smell so goes right to food that smells good. and spends a good minute sticking her nose into her pellets before she eats them

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0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx
1.3.0 Nigerian Uromastyx
1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
1.0.0 Green Iguana
1.0.1 American Toads
2.0.1 African Clawed frog
0.1.0 Dune Gecko Steno Petrii
0.0.1 Leopard Gecko
1.1.1 Red Spotted Newts
0.1.0 Red Eared Slider
0.1.0 Box Turtle

Congratulations Matt!! Can't wait to see pics. I love the stories of everyone's little ones, esbat your turtle has stunning head colouration and patterning!

I wish I wish I wish...

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

I should get some pics today. lol, he smells his pellets, but I've never seen him eat any. He ate a little bit of banana too, but not while I was watching. His species is primarily insectivorous, but he still needs to learn to eat his veggies

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+5 bonus points to whoever finds me a job!

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." - John Benfield