Three-Toed Box Turtle: What You Need To Know About This Cute Little Creature From The Land Of The Free

The three-toed box turtle is named after the three toes on its hind feet. These attractive, classic-looking turtle are native to the United States. Three toed box tortillas have a high, domed carapace (dorsal shell) that is usually olive-brown with some yellow markings. The males may have red markings on their heads with occasional red, orange, and black spots on the neck and forelegs. The claws on the hind feet are shorter and more curved than those on the females. Box turtles can live in a wide variety of habitats. This can include woodlands to meadow. They often venture into shallow waters. Perhaps more so than the other box turtle. Hatchlings and children can be kept in a large indoor terrarium, but adults need a much bigger space. The minimum size is four feet wide and four feet long. However, double the length to eight feet is preferred. Nestle a lamp-emitting reptile light in your turtle's enclosure to help it produce vitamin D3. Make sure the temperature of any part of the enclosure is not below 70 F. coconut husk fiber is an ideal, natural material that retains moisture. Other good materials include cypress mulch, peat moss, or topsoil mixed with sand. Avoid using Perlite, Vermiculite, and Styrofoam. These can cause gut impaction problems. Hatchling box turtles are carnivorous, but adult box turtle can be herbivores. Half of their diet should be made up of vegetables, fruit, and legumes. The remainder is made up entirely of low-fat protein sources. Whole live foods are ideal (earthworms, slugs, snails). Respiratory infections are common in these turtle. Vitamin A deficiency is usually the result of a nutrient-poor diet. Shell rot is a serious and painful condition for the turtle. The turtle should be treated by a veterinary professional. Box turtle populations are declining around the world. Many U. S. states protect box turtle populations. They have laws against collecting box turtle from the wild. Thousands of box turtle are still collected every year to meet the demands of the pet trade. Most of these turtle will die within 12 months of capture. . . .