Box Turtle Breed Guide

Box turtles are easily identified by their high-domed shell and stumpy feet. Box Turtles also have the ability to completely close up within their shell, a superb defense mechanism that not all turtles possess.

Box turtles are docile and sometimes shy, they can become quite personable and sometimes Box Turtles will feed from their owners hand or even follow their owners when they are hungry. Box Turtles love the sun and are fairly lazy; they become most determined when seeking out their food.

Your Box Turtle needs plenty of space to move about and be active, most Box Turtles will have large pens that allow for this but if their enclosure is fairly small they may need a separate run or have monitored time in the garden to move about freely.

Box Turtles are omnivorous, but usually tend to eat meat until their later years when they will eat fruits and vegetables almost exclusively. A diet of fruit, vegetables, earthworms and insects will satisfy your Box Turtle. They will also need a regular fresh water supply, given in a bowl they can’t easily knock over.

Box turtles are fairly easy to keep, as they have fewer housing needs than some other turtles. Box Turtles prefer to be kept outside; a turtle pen, with a cover and secure fencing, may be the best housing option as it will give your Box Turtle lots of room. If you decide to house your Box Turtle indoors, a large glass aquarium can be a suitable home. Natural plants will improve your Box Turtle’s environment and a hide area is a necessary component, this can be easily created using some large rocks that have been cemented together.

Box Turtles are susceptible to a variety of diseases and conditions, but many health problems can be avoided by taking preventative measures, firstly keep your Box Turtle’s home cleaned. Salmonellosis is a common intestinal infection which your Box Turtle could be susceptible to. It is generally caused by infected food sources or from contact with other infected Box Turtles. Soft Shell is a condition often seen in captive Box Turtles, which can become serious. It is caused by a calcium deficiency along with a lack of vitamin D3 and sunlight. An obvious symptom is a softness and flexibility of the edges of the turtle’s shell. It is more difficult to diagnose in young turtles because their shells tend to be soft already, but there may also be some discoloration of the shell, turning it a bleached white color. To avoid soft shell or to cure it in its early stages, make sure your turtle is getting enough full-spectrum lighting. Also supplement your Box Turtle’s diet with additional calcium; you can even buy calcium powder to mix in with your Box Turtle’s food once a week.

30 + Years

North America & Mexico