Box Turtles As Pets

You know, I don’t subscribe to the idea of getting a pet in order to teach your kids responsibility. I’ve known of people who’ve allowed animals to die a miserable, lonely death because their child didn’t take care of their “responsibility”. However, with proper guidance and vigilance from parents, it can be a wonderful thing for kids to learn how to look after a pet and to experience the pleasure of knowing they had a hand in nurturing a healthy and happy critter. And if time and expense are a hindrance to having that puppy or kitten, how about a box turtle?

Box turtles are actually amphibians and are named because when they retract inside their shells, every part becomes enclosed inside as if it were a box. On the lower part of the shell there is a “hinge” which allows that to happen. There are different varieties of box turtles and it can mean a difference in how to take care of them. North American box turtles are more terrestrial (land turtles) than other turtles. On the other hand, Asian box turtles are more of the aquatic kind, and so you would find them in the water most of the time.

This is Leni, who can be found along with other box turtles for adoption at petfinder.com. Leni is being cared for at Colorado Reptile Humane Society.

Box turtles make great pets. They have really long life spans . In the wild they can live up to a hundred years. When bred in captivity though, they tend to have much shorter life spans of around 40 to 50 years.  That still requires a long term responsibility on the part of the owner. One of the common reasons that a lot of box turtles die is because people tend to assume that they can survive with minimal care. While they don’t require daily walks, house-training and leadership, they still have needs that must be met.

The following are some of the points to remember when taking care of box turtles:

1. Box turtles fare well living in an outdoor pen as long as they have access to water in which to wade and are not under threat from other household pets. Indoor turtles should be provided with a large enclosure, preferably not glass. Plastic storage containers can work well and you can allow your pet to roam the house from time to time, if safely monitored.

2. Temperatures should not drop below 60F overnight or above 85F during the day. Your turtle needs about 12 hours of light a day but should also have shade for those extra hot days. If he’s and indoor pet then appropriate lighting should be provided.

3. Create as natural an environment as possible. A bed of sand, potting soil, sphagnum moss and leaf mulch; hollow logs and flat rocks, shallow pond, potted plants and daily misting. This latter is essential as turtles need high humidity.

4. Box turtles are generally plant eaters, but they also eat mollusks, insects and worms. They eat almost anything they find edible. If they live in an outdoor pen, place a rock where they could eat their food instead of using some kind of dish. High calcium plant sources are good for their development.

5. During the winter season your pet will want to hibernate and he’ll love to burrow. Make sure that the outdoor pen has places where he can burrow deeply and be safe from harsh weather conditions. Before the season of hibernation begins, make sure that your turtle is in tiptop shape and free from any diseases. You want him to wake up again in the spring!

Box turtles from the wild should not be picked up and made into household pets. More than likely they will not survive. If you want a box turtle for a pet, better go to your local shelter to find one that has been bred in captivity. If you do encounter a wild box turtle that is lost, contact local wildlife support groups so they can return him back to his natural habitat.

“I know up on the top you are seeing great sights, but down at the bottom we, too, should have rights.” ~ Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories, Dr. Seuss.

Other resources:

http://www.turtlepuddle.org/american/boxcare.html

http://www.healthypet.com/PetCare/PetCareArticle.aspx?art_key=a2dcf488-1a11-4ea0-97a6-4256f117773f

http://saveapetblog.com/animal-talk/it-takes-more-than-lettuce-to-raise-a-tortoise/