EASTERN BOX TURTLE
Terrapene carolina carolina

Background Info

The high-domed carapace of the box turtle may carry a wide variety of markings. Usually it is dark brown or black, accented with some combination of yellow streaks or blotches. The box turtle gets its name from its centrally hinged plastron (lower shell), which enables both front and rear portions of the plastron to be drawn up tightly against the carapace (upper shell). This "boxes in" the turtle for protection. Found in woodlands throughout Ohio, the box turtle is our most terrestrial turtle. During the heat of summer, this extremely gentle animals spends the day hidden beneath rotting logs. decaying leaves, and other plant debris, venturing out only during early morning or evening. A sudden shower after a dry spell usually will bring out box turtles in large numbers.

The greatest threat to turtles is the thoughtless driver who makes no attempt to avoid running over them as they lumber across the highway.

Unlike other turtles that are found in or near the water, the box turtle is primarily terrestrial and prefers dry woodlands. Box turtles use their powerful legs to bury themselves in the soil to cool off in the heat of summer, hibernate during the winter, and make a safe nest for their fertilized eggs. Box turtles are omnivorous and eat a well-balanced diet including such tasty morsels as insect larvae and small toads, as well as berries and various plants. They can also eat wild mushrooms, many of which are poisonous to humans, without ill effect. The splotchy yellow or orange dots or stripes on the box turtle’s brown or black shell make it easy to distinguish from other species. The color and patterns of the markings vary widely among individual box turtles, though, making it easy to identify a particular turtle.

Turtles are born with their shells, which are a major part of their skeletal structure. In fact, the turtle’s backbone is fused to the inside of the top of its shell, the carapace. The bottom plate, or plastron, of the box turtle’s shell is hinged, giving box turtles the unique ability to completely enclose their head and limbs within their shell when threatened by predators. Adult box turtles have little to fear from any creature except humans. Young turtles and turtle eggs are vulnerable to mammal predators, though, and they are a particular favorite of hungry skunks.

Box turtles are easy to spot on or along roadways where they may pause to sun themselves. Consequently, they often fall prey to passing automobiles or families in search of a souvenir pet. If you see a turtle in your travels, please let it be, or kindly move it to the side of the road. Turtles have an important job to do in the woodland ecosystem, and they need a fighting chance to propagate more turtles. Besides, with their legendary longevity, taking a turtle out of the wild would be like removing a living monument.

It’s not unusual for a box turtle to live for 40 years or more, and a few have been reported to be over 100 years old!

Eastern box turtles are protected from collection in most states in which they occur.

Box turtles are commonly seen in the pet trade. Unfortunately, many people purchase these animals without the knowledge to care for them properly. The vast majority of box turtles seen in pet stores are wild-caught adult animals. Few babies are offered for sale because, by federal law, it is illegal to sell any turtle under 4" in length -- a size box turtles do no reach for several years after birth. It’s not unusual for a box turtle to live for 40 years or more, and a few have been reported to be over 100 years old!

Each year, hundreds of thousands of box turtles are taken from the wild to supply the demands of the pet trade.  With current harvest rates, it is likely that box turtles will be an endangered species within the next ten years.

Box turtles do make excellent pets for responsible reptile lovers, but they do not make good pets for children because their captive care requirements are rather elaborate. If you want to purchase a box turtle for your child (or have already done so), realize that most children are incapable of providing for the elaborate captive care needs of a pet box turtle. If an adult is willing to accept the responsibility of caring for the animal, box turtles make good family pets. If you desire a pet box turtle, the best choice is a captive born animal.

Selecting a Healthy Box Turtle:
What should you look for when you go into a pet store to purchase a box turtle? The first thing you should observe is how the box turtles are set-up in the store. Are the box turtles provided with all of the requirements they need? Do the animals look healthy, have clear eyes, smooth shells, and no visible, large lumps on their skin? One of the most important aspects of purchasing a box turtle is purchasing one from a store that has knowledgeable employees. Ask the employees what box turtles eat and what type of cage set up they need. If they do not mention most or all of the five requirements listed below, find another store to purchase your box turtle in. Pet stores with knowledgeable employees can help you after your purchase should any problems arise, and can save you a lot of frustration and time.

Box Turtle Requirements:
90% of box turtles purchased by the general public die within the first 6 months to 2 years of captivity because they are not cared for properly. It is estimated that box turtles can live 50-100 years naturally. Purchasing an animal just to have it die because it is not set-up or fed correctly is a waste of your money, your time, and an animal's life. Box turtles require five things in order to fare well in captivity they are:
Heating
Room to Roam
Full Spectrum Lighting
High Humidity
Proper Diet

Heating -- Or The Evils of Heat Rocks:
Proper heating is critical when caring for box turtles in captivity. Without proper heating, many box turtles will become ill. The most commonly seen illness caused by lack of proper heating is respiratory infections. Box turtles with respiratory infections often wheeze with labored breathing and produce bubbly mucous from their nostrils. If your box turtle has these symptoms, take it to a qualified reptile veterinarian. Not all veterinarians are qualified to care for reptiles, so be careful to check out their credentials. A good way to find a qualified reptile vet is to contact your local reptile society and ask for a reference.

Many box turtle problems can be avoided by simply offering one area of the cage that is heated to 85-88°F. This can be accomplished in a number of ways. First of all, heat rocks are not suitable sources of heat for box turtles. If an employee at a pet store tells you they are and tries to sell you one, leave, because they don't know what they are talking about. If you already are using a heat rock and don't want to use anything else to provide heat, give your animal to someone who will take care of it properly. Heat rocks, if used at all, should be buried in substrate such as peat moss to prevent box turtles from burning themselves. The best sources of heat for box turtles are either overhead incandescent heat lights or quality undertank heating pads. They can be used in conjunction with each other quite effectively to provide daytime and nighttime heat areas.

Whatever source of heat is used, it must provide an area of the cage where the ambient (air) temperature where the animal is basking is 85-88°. Undertank heaters can be left on a night to keep one side of the cage warm without disturbing the box turtle's sleep. During the day, the heat light and heating pad should be left on for 10-12 hours. At night, turn off the heat light, and if temperatures in your house do not drop below 75°, you may turn off the heat pad as well. The enclosure the box turtle is in must be set-up to provide a thermal gradient, so that the turtle can warm up if its too cold, or cool down if its too hot. Hiding spots should be placed at both the warm spot and the cool spot so the box turtle can feel secure in either spot.

Room to Roam:
Box turtles need a good size enclosure in order to provide for the proper range of heating and humidity. The smallest size indoor enclosure one box turtle should be kept in is a standard 30 gallon breeder aquarium. For two box turtles, the minimum enclosure should be a 40 gallon breeder tank. Bigger is always better. A ten gallon aquarium is not appropriate for an adult box turtle and is analogous to forcing you to live in your closet.

Lighting:
There is quite a bit of controversy regarding box turtles and lighting. Some experts say that box turtles do not require full spectrum lighting, but it is good for their psychological welfare. Other experts say that full spectrum lighting is necessary to prevent calcium deficiency. Suffice it to say, full spectrum lighting certainly does no harm, and may do a world of good, so it is recommended for use with box turtles. Full spectrum lighting refers to a special type of fluorescent bulb manufactured for use with reptiles. Full spectrum lights simulate the wavelengths of natural sunlight. Irradiation by certain wavelengths of light is thought to provide reptiles with vitamin D3, which is necessary for the absorption of dietary calcium. Without full spectrum lighting, many reptiles suffer from a calcium deficiency known as metabolic bone disease, often termed "soft shell disease" when seen in turtles.

High Humidity:
Box turtles require a relative humidity of 60-80%. Box turtles that are not provided with the correct humidity often suffer from infected and swollen eyes and ear infections. Box turtles kept in enclosures with low humidity spend a lot of time buried in an effort to reach an area that is moist. Providing high humidity is easy. In one corner of the enclosure, pour some peat moss and wet it down with water. This area is the box turtle's "humidity site" and will help to keep the relative humidity high. Peat moss dries out rather quickly, especially in dry climates, so it must be checked constantly and rewetted as needed. In addition, a large, shallow water dish should be provided so the turtles can soak. Box turtles must have clean water available at all times.

Proper Diet:
Box turtles are omnivorous, meaning that they eat part of their diet as vegetable matter, and part of their diet as animal matter. At each feeding, box turtles should be offer both a mixed salad and some animal protein.
Animal Protein Sources:
Crickets
Mealworms
Nightcrawlers
High quality, low-fat wet dog or cat food (NOT grocery store brands)
Box Turtle Salad:
Dark, calcium rich greens (60-70%)
Mustard greens
Collard greens
Endive
Dandelion greens
Romaine lettuce

Vegetables (20-30%)
Grated carrots
Grated squash, zucchini
Frozen mixed veggies
Fruits and flowers (10-20%)

Berries (strawberries, raspberries, etc.)
Melon or cantaloupe
Prickly-pear cactus fruits and flowers
Grapes
Kiwi fruit
Hibiscus flowers

Box turtles need a varied diet, so switch around the ingredients in the salad, and offer different types of animal protein. For example, one week offer crickets and a salad of mustard greens, collard greens, carrots, squash, and strawberries, and the next week offer nightcrawlers, and a salad of thawed mixed veggies, romaine lettuce, endive, and kiwi fruit. There are several dietary items that should be fed sparingly or not at all. Spinach and beets should be given in small amounts or avoided because these vegetables contain oxalic acids which bind calcium, making it unavailable to your turtle. Vegetables like cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale, and broccoli should also be offered in small amounts or avoided because these contain iodine binders that can cause thyroid problems. In addition to a varied diet, box turtles should receive calcium and vitamin supplementation once a week for adults and three times a week for juveniles. Calcium and vitamin supplements are available at reptile stores.

Conclusion:
If cared for properly, box turtles make fascinating and long lived pets. If your intention is to purchase a box turtle as a pet for a young child, realize that children cannot care for box turtles by themselves and require constant supervision when handling box turtles, both for their safety and the turtle's. Box turtles are demanding as pets, but are worth all of the effort required to maintain them properly in captivity. If you do not have the money, time, or inclination to provide a box turtle with the requirements it needs, by all means DO NOT BUY ONE! Box turtles are one of the most abused animals in the pet trade because many people who buy them do not know what they are getting into. Do not contribute to this problem.