Found a box turtle, do I do anything?

PuppyFluffer said:
So your turtles are captive since they are injury survivors? How do you house them? I don't know much about turtle hibernation.
How do you sex them?
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Yes, I keep them in an outdoor 8'x8'x2.5' enclosure with ferns and other natural plants for them to hide and forage in.

Do you mean Terrapene carolina or other turtles in general? Every species is different but EBT's are pretty easy to sex. It's always easier of course if you have both sexes to compare with. Males often are larger of the two sexes, they can be brighter in color, usually have red, pink or orange eyes, have a longer tail and a concaved plastron.

Male EBT.
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Females are usually have slightly duller colors, brown eyes, shorter tail, a more domed shell and a flat carapace.
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Can anyone guess the sex of this turtle? :D
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My kids go outside in the warm months, too. Ella is getting big (Sulcata,) and I am hoping that being in the open air will help convince the Hingebacks to breed. My little Sulcata is moving to SoCal here soon, I am so happy for her!

Kristina

Vicious_Fish said:
It really does stink when they have to hibernate. I do worry about them not waking up every spring. We had a pretty cold winter here so that last female gave me a scare. But I try to keep them in as natural of a setup as possible. And since they're a native, I let them hibernate like they would in the wild. I prepare for the worst and give them a lot of organic mulch to bury in.

EBT are one of those species that does poorly when kept indoors long term. They really need to have hibernation or cooling down period if they are to thrive. The two oldest females I have kept for over 20 years now which isn't too bad. They're probably in their 40-50's if I was to guess and they can live to be 100. I better put them in my will!
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I'm sure that both species would love the outdoors when the weather is nice. I'm sure you know this but so everyone elses knows, torts do not do good in pens they can see out. This goes for aquariums and wire pens/cages.

Kristina I'd love to see some pics of your tortoises!
 
Vicious_Fish said:
I'm sure that both species would love the outdoors when the weather is nice. I'm sure you know this but so everyone elses knows, torts do not do good in pens they can see out. This goes for aquariums and wire pens/cages.

Kristina I'd love to see some pics of your tortoises!
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I'll start my own thread, lol, so as not to totally hijack this one :D

Kristina
 
Vicious_Fish said:
Any updates?


On a related note, my 4th and final EBT came out of hibernation over the weekend. I was getting worried when the other 3 woke up last week. I guess she's just a late riser. Everyone is healthy and eating well. I hope to have some eggs laid pretty soon.
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Well, he disappeared right after my last post, so I'm hoping he found his way home.

Glad to hear your last EBT is ok. :)
 
that would be female, if i'm not mistaken >.>

OP: i'm glad he seems to be on the move... let us know if you spot him again! ^_^
 
deeleywoman said:
that would be female, if i'm not mistaken >.>
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Yes, that bottom pic is a female. I don't know how many people have tried to tell me that she's a "he". I even had a guy on MFK try to argue with me about it one time, lol! Also the fact that she lays eggs is a dead giveaway.

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see, i can sex land turtles cuz i've had them before lol (i'm still lost on scooter lmao)
 
deeleywoman said:
see, i can sex land turtles cuz i've had them before lol (i'm still lost on scooter lmao)
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If post pics of his tail and plastron I can give it a shot.

Kristina
 
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