Eastern Box turtle hatchlings!!!!

[animallover77]

Hi I wanted to ask if anyone could direct me to a website, book, or person that can tell me about raising hatchling EBTs. I have one about a month old now and am wondering when I should start introducing other foods . And any advice about indoor habitats. I can't make an outdoor one now,(and I shouldn't since he's so young) When is a good age/size to move him to an outdoor habitat?

[wizzasmum]

Hi
Your hatchlling will do better in outdoor accomodation from the word go. Tanks are for fishes and totally unsuitable for tortoises. they need free air ciculating around them. You can still provide a heat lamp under a covered area for the little one to thermoregulate properly. All foods should be given from an early age. In the wild nature does not provide different food for hatchlings:lol: It may help if you chop it up a little finer but don't make it to easy for it as it will come to rely on your help. Best to imitate s close to nature as possible for all aspects of husbandry from food to substrate.
Hope this helps :-)

[animallover77]

I live in an apartment. I have a small back porch and a spot I can use on the front porch. You think I should put a month old hatchling outside in Michigan? Right now the temps get to about 60-65 during the day and about 40 at night. I keep reading that easterns like cooler temps and don't need quit so much humidity, but of course there's contradicting info too. What do you think?

[wizzasmum]

Sorry - I had no idea it got so hot there. Phew how do you live in that heat? Of course the tortoise will have to live indoors during such outdoor temps. The same goes for the adults. they are no more equipped for dealing with those temps than hatchlings. You still need to get away from the tank type set-up though as this will create the wrong microclimate. Try a table top set up which is basically a shallow sided enclosure with lights above to form a basking spot. The tport must also have hidey hole to get away from it all if it wishes.

[animallover77]

I'm sorry not 60-65 celsius but 60-65 Farenheit..... I think that's more like 15-18 degrees celsius during the day

[wizzasmum]

Hi
What you need to do is construct an outdoor enclosure which has access to an electricity supply. This is to provide a basking light for daytime use in the indoor section. What happens is the tortoise will sit under the light to attain the temps needed to feed and digest food correctly. It does not matter that the ambient temps are lower than usual, just that the little fella can heat his body up sufficiently. He will then go in search of food in his outdoor enclosure where he will obtain far superior uvb light to any artificial lighting. When he has eaten enough he will go back inside to keep warm again. I will attempt to attach a pic of my outdoor enclosure at my last house(not sure how to do this yet though). So far at my new house I have not constructed a large enough secure area but the torts are still housed outdoors with a basking lamp.
Hope this helps

[animallover77]

thanks- I appreciate all your info. so this turtle buries himself/herself in the substrate almost 95% of the time in his habitat. The humidity is about 60-65% and the temp averages about 73F (20celsius?). I put him out to bask after eating, he stays there about 15 minutes or so then gets down and buries himself for the rest of the day. Should I try to get him to bask longer? I've also tried to give him veggies and fruit(so far have tried strawberries, carrots, tomatoes, no greens yet though) he seems uninterested. Any suggestions?

[wizzasmum]

Hi again
I wouldn't like to give too many suggestions as my tortoises are all herbivores and the only experience of boxies is via friends who have them. If you apply to join a group specifically for boxie owners you will get far better info on your little one. This one has some expert members who will be only too pleased to help you http://groups.yahoo.com/group/boxturtlelist
If you have any problems getting on there please let me know
Hope this helps :-)

[animallover77]

Thanks!
I ll check into it

[Titania]

Be careful.. I know here in PA Eastern Box turtles are on the threatened/endangered species list.. and you can get fined if you do not have proof of thier origin.

[AnimalLuvr84]

I have a box turtle and I built a house for her useing 2 hard plastic kiddie pools. I put one upside down on the other one and screwed them together and I cut a big hole out of the top one. She really likes it. I put it outside in the summer and inside in the winter. I put a screen over the top so birds or animals cant get in it and i make sure to leave her in partial shade so it doesnt get too overheated. the only problem with this is the size. :D