Box Turtle - Terrapene carolina
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Box
Turtle - Terrapene carolina
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Turtle Care Sheets]
General Information
Distribution — Northeastern United States - Main to Georgia, west to Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee.
Habitat — Eastern Box turtles can be found in open woodlands and around at the edges of meadows.
Adult Size — Adults attain shell lengths of approximately 12-13 cm (5-6 inches).
Temperament — Box turtles are typically docile animals that are easy to manage. At first, they may be quite shy and tend to withdraw into their shell but they will eventually become quite used to your presence.
Longevity — This species can reach the age of 30 to 40 years in captivity. However, records of box turtles living between 80 and 100 years also exist.
Captive Care
Rating: 4 — Although the Eastern Box Turtle is a docile animal, it has specialized dietary requirements and requires natural sunlight or really high quality full spectrum lighting. The longevity of this turtle is also an issue to consider.
Diet: Juveniles are primarily carnivorous - crickets, meal worms, earthworms, and wax worms along with low fat quality dog food, fresh fruits, berries, and vegetables; Adults are primarily herbivorous - strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, plums, broccoli heads, tomatoes etc. along with some crickets, meal worms, wax worms, and the occasional pink mouse.
Temperature: Basking temperatures ranging from 28-31oC (84-88 F) and a drop to 20oC (74 F) at night.
Space: A single adult can be housed in a 81 x 27 - 108 x 41 cm (36 x 12 - 48 x 18 inch) enclosure. Larger is better. In the summer an outdoor pen is ideal. If enclosure is outdoors, ensure that no animals can get in and the turtles cannot get out.
Breeding: Brumation - cooling - during the winter is essential. In the spring, the animals will breed and females will deposit 3-5 eggs in a suitable egg deposition site. Females can store sperm for several years and may produce multiple clutches over a two to three year period using stored sperm. Incubation of the eggs at temperatures between 26oC and 28oC (86-90 F) usually results in the hatchlings emerging in 70-85 days. Sex is temperature dependent and all female will be produced at temperatures above 28.5oC (91 F) while males are produced at temperatures below 21oC (76 F). Temperatures between these two will produce both males and females.
Special Requirements: Box turtles are long lived animals and should not be purchased without consideration for the considerable space, time, and monetary commitments that need to be made. Full sunlight is highly recommended during the summer months and a varied diet is critical when raising this species.
Sources (Suggested Reading):
Bartlett, R.D. and P. Bartlett. 1996. Turtles and Tortoises. Barron’s Educational Series Inc., New York. Pp. 119.
Coburn, John. 1997. Turtles: Keeping & Breeding Them in Captivity. TFH Publications, Inc. Neptune City, NJ. Pp. 64.
De Vosjoli, Philippe and Roger Klineberg. 1995. The Box Turtle Manual. Advanced Vivarium Systems, Inc. Lakeside, CA. Pp.102.
Highfield, A.C. 1996. Practical Encyclopedia of Keeping and Breeding Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles. Carapace Press, London, England. Pp.295.