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DeadPhan
Registered: 05/05/04
Posts: 5,260
Last seen: 4 years, 5 months
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found me a baby box tutrtle....anyone got advice on care?
#4192005 - 05/18/05 04:55 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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so, a few weeks ago i was woken by my girlfriend and as my eyes came into focus i see her holding a tiny box turtle. my dad had found it hanging out under a lip in the door frame. we checked him out for a lil while and then let him go in my backyard wich is quite small but we put him by our old logs and stuff.....well a few days ago he found himself smack in the middle of my backyard and well, we are in teh suburbs and i didnt wana just leave him in my backyard to wander out eventualy to the road maybe so this time we made him a lil thing and been tryin to feed him. only had him like 5 days or so now and havent noticed him eat much. they say thats normal....otherwise hes perfectly healthy walkin around, drinkin water, just not eatin much. anyway....i did some reading but was curious as to wether anyone here has suggestions on bedding, foods, etc. i got actualy turtle food from the store as well as fruits, veggies and bugs. i just need to make him a more sustainable permanent area as well. im bout to go in the backyard and throw some dirt in a kiddie pool along with some plants and stuff just wondering if anyone with turtles or had in the past might have some advice itd be much appreciated.....edited to say, not sure if its a he or she.... Terry Terrapin
-------------------- Big Gulps! Alright! Well, See ya later! And if i claim to be a wise man, well, it surely means that i dont know!
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emptywisdom
simple being oflight
Registered: 03/29/05
Posts: 2,107
Loc: Lemuria
Last seen: 8 years, 6 months
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Re: found me a baby box tutrtle....anyone got advice on care? [Re: DeadPhan]
#4192013 - 05/18/05 04:57 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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never git rid of your digital camera
he wants a little bit of water to splash in. not much, just a small puddle is enough.
and he wants to get high.
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thegatewaydrug
my burning sunwill some dayrise
Registered: 11/15/04
Posts: 6,987
Loc: wherever i may roam
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Re: found me a baby box tutrtle....anyone got advice on care? [Re: DeadPhan]
#4192043 - 05/18/05 05:01 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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haha turtles are tight
-------------------- May God have mercy upon my enemies, because i won't. General George S. Patton
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Hooty
Reality isRelative
Registered: 02/24/03
Posts: 2,467
Last seen: 12 years, 11 months
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Re: found me a baby box tutrtle....anyone got advice on care? [Re: thegatewaydrug]
#4192067 - 05/18/05 05:05 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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that's one cute son of a bitch....
having a pet box turtle reminds me of a mitch hedburg joke, except it's about a frog....
In England Smoky the Bear is not the forest fire prevention representative. They have Smacky the Frog. It's just like a bear, but it's a frog. I think it's a better system, I think we should adopt it. Because bears can be mean, but frogs are always cool. Never has there been a frog hopping toward me, and I thought 'man, I'd better play dead. Here comes that frog...' You never say here comes that frog in a nervous manner. It's always optimistic. Hey here comes that frog, al-right. Maybe he'll come near me so I can pet him, and stick him in a mayonnaise jar, with a stick and a leaf, to recreate what he's used to. And I'm pretty sure I'd have to punch some holes in the lid, because he's damn sure used to air. Then I can observe him, and he won't be doing much in his 16 ounce world.
-------------------- Without love in the dream It will never come true
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thegatewaydrug
my burning sunwill some dayrise
Registered: 11/15/04
Posts: 6,987
Loc: wherever i may roam
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Re: found me a baby box tutrtle....anyone got advice on care? [Re: Hooty]
#4192080 - 05/18/05 05:07 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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shorties watching shorties funny show
-------------------- May God have mercy upon my enemies, because i won't. General George S. Patton
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Liz
Owl Lady
Registered: 11/16/04
Posts: 6,962
Loc: Massachusetts
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Re: found me a baby box tutrtle....anyone got advice on care? [Re: DeadPhan]
#4192134 - 05/18/05 05:25 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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send him to me, and I will hug and love him.
that thing is SO cute. You're a nice guy to be so concerned for the lil fella
-------------------- Remember, remember the fifth of November The gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot.
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Rapmaster
Stranger
Registered: 09/19/04
Posts: 414
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Re: found me a baby box tutrtle....anyone got advice on care? [Re: Liz]
#4192146 - 05/18/05 05:27 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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Raccoons and possums and such may be interested in your little friend too. I suggest keeping him inside
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YidakiMan
Stranger
Registered: 09/28/02
Posts: 2,023
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Re: found me a baby box tutrtle....anyone got advice on care? [Re: DeadPhan]
#4192198 - 05/18/05 05:40 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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You may want to check the law in your state, in many states box turtles are protected species. If it is indeed a protected species, it could cost you several thousand dollars if a DNR official happens to find it in your possesion.
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DeadPhan
Registered: 05/05/04
Posts: 5,260
Last seen: 4 years, 5 months
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Re: found me a baby box tutrtle....anyone got advice on care? [Re: Rapmaster]
#4192325 - 05/18/05 06:05 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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yea...i intend too, but its ok to make him a good thing for outside during the daytime. and keep them in untill they get older, or maybe i can put a screen over. but ill just bring em in till its bigger
-------------------- Big Gulps! Alright! Well, See ya later! And if i claim to be a wise man, well, it surely means that i dont know!
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Ripple
Ripple
Registered: 05/16/02
Posts: 21,014
Loc: the timbers of Fennario
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Re: found me a baby box tutrtle....anyone got advice on care? [Re: DeadPhan]
#4192472 - 05/18/05 06:43 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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Make sure he has shade if he lives outside.
-------------------- The bus came by and I got on that's when it all began!
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Stonerguy
I smoke penis
Registered: 05/29/04
Posts: 5,538
Loc: Lost
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Re: found me a baby box tutrtle....anyone got advice on care? [Re: DeadPhan]
#4192525 - 05/18/05 06:57 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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I used to have some kind of turtle, but not a box. Mine only grew if you put it in a bigger inviroment. Meh I gave it away to some kid whos rabbit died.
-------------------- yawn... SG
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Corporal Kielbasa
Registered: 05/29/04
Posts: 17,235
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Re: found me a baby box tutrtle....anyone got advice on care? [Re: DeadPhan]
#4192691 - 05/18/05 07:38 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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He looks to be about 2 years older. From my expierience and from what i have read. they like to wade in a shallow pool. They need a flower pot on its side broken in half for a hide spot. They love to eat vegetables and bugs. Earth worms crickets any thing. They can dig too and they often spend their time in soft soil where its cool in the heat. Give them some ferns and other plants for shade and a wide shallow bowl and some hiding spots and they will love you. ur best bet is to keep him out side. Build a cold frame for plants. But make sute to have it barried atleast 6 inches. Put some shady plants in one corner some loose leafes in an other corner his swiming pool in an other and a hid box in the last. Keep it moist and shady. Have a chiken wire cover so predators dont get in.
Most often people find it vary rare to find small box turtles they are very secretive and love to hide and be safe. Most people only find them when they are adults and roaming for food.
I been keeping box turtles on and off since i was a wee lad. Had one lay eggs had a whoele family and since it wasnt barried they decided to dig out for frredome. They love earth worms by the way and become very tame after soft handeling. You can feed him by had when he gets used to you.
good luck and happy parenting.
check out www.kingsnake.com i am sure you can find some more information on the lil tike.
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Le_Canard
The Duk Abides
Registered: 05/16/03
Posts: 94,392
Loc: Earthfarm 1
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Re: found me a baby box tutrtle....anyone got advice on care? [Re: DeadPhan]
#4192707 - 05/18/05 07:43 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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yes, that's cool you care about him, but wild critters belong in the wild. I'd see what kind of habitats they like and try to find something like that in a nearby forest.....
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Corporal Kielbasa
Registered: 05/29/04
Posts: 17,235
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Re: found me a baby box tutrtle....anyone got advice on care? [Re: Le_Canard]
#4192739 - 05/18/05 07:52 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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it wasnt wild it lived in a suburban back yard. around roads that would claim it life eventualy.
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Le_Canard
The Duk Abides
Registered: 05/16/03
Posts: 94,392
Loc: Earthfarm 1
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Re: found me a baby box tutrtle....anyone got advice on care? [Re: Corporal Kielbasa]
#4192792 - 05/18/05 08:05 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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True, he may have lost his a life a lot sooner staying where he was, but I don't know about not being wild. It just seems to me he'd be happier in the wild, anyway.....
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Adden
Registered: 06/04/03
Posts: 39,201
Loc:
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Re: found me a baby box tutrtle....anyone got advice on care? [Re: DeadPhan]
#4192938 - 05/18/05 08:57 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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dig a hole in your backyard, buy one of those plastic ponds at home depot for like $40, go to drsfostersmith.com pay $40-$80 for a pond filter, buy cheap lava rock and build it so he can crawl out of the pool.
stock it with feeder fish and refresh them as (or if) needed
local stores for plants around it.. pet stores for lily pads (just buy banana plants) or water lettuce
as far as wintering,
they sell turtle tanks, glass tanks with a hole on the top left side so you can put a box filter in there. I think they go up to $40 but are a little bit more expensive since it is not tempered glass.
A whisper2 would run you $20 online and a visi-therm 50-150w submersible heater would cost $15-18.
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