I recently got 2 box turtles. The pet store suggested I use eco earth soil as a substrate. My question is the turtles has the soaking pan full of soil within minutes and they are caked in soil also. They just go from soil to water over and over. I just want to make sure its OK to have them full of soil. I also plan on changing water daily but is it OK to have soil in it. Want to be sure they are safe!!
Messy box turtles
- Thread starter Wabrli6
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Did you wet it down ? Put it in some warm water ring it out like a damp spong and if you still have a problem put some flat stones around the water dish .
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We all like Picts of the turtles and the enclosure .
This is just a fact of life with turtles and tortoises. There are a few things you can do to TRY to keep the water cleaner, but turtles and tortoises make their water dirty. Period.
Another thing, besides the suggestions given by Grandpa, is to move the waterer out to the middle of the habitat, and not on the edge of the habitat.
A waterer filled with dirt isn't harmful to your turtle as long as he gets clean water daily.
Another thing, besides the suggestions given by Grandpa, is to move the waterer out to the middle of the habitat, and not on the edge of the habitat.
A waterer filled with dirt isn't harmful to your turtle as long as he gets clean water daily.
How big of a tank are they in and are they sharing it?
I'd get some rocks and rock around the dish to keep the substrate at the edge of the bowl from being dragged in. Still going to drag in substrate, but not as much if you have rocks around it.
I'd get some rocks and rock around the dish to keep the substrate at the edge of the bowl from being dragged in. Still going to drag in substrate, but not as much if you have rocks around it.
Well, now that I've seen the pictures, I can see what your problem is. Those are NOT babies. They are grown box turtles and need to be outside. Adult turtles do much better when set up in a safe outdoor habitat. Adults are much too active to keep them in a small aquarium. If you absolutely MUST keep them indoors, then you need something much bigger. 4'x8' would be a good size.
SpiritSerpents
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Am I seeing things, or does the beak in the first picture look rather severely overgrown?
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The beak is severely overgrown, and also deformed. It needs a trim.
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I clean my box turtles water dish every day because not only does she drag the coir into it, but she also poops in it every morning. For me, adding moss around it has helped keep the water cleaner, still change it once a day though
