Two new young fl box turtles
- Thread starter CharlieM
- Start date
They're so cool!
May, Aussies, & THBs
IG: @AUSSOMEAUSSIES
May, Aussies, & THBs
IG: @AUSSOMEAUSSIES
They are plenty big for a year old. Average size for an average one year old box turtle is 2 to 2.5 inches.
They are a bit bumpy. I find that kind of strange as I don't believe box turtles are as prone to MBD as tortoises. And when they do get it it usually isn't something that looks like typical pyramiding.
I'd just provide them with the correct environment and with cuttlebone and lots of nightcrawlers and they should be fine.
They are a bit bumpy. I find that kind of strange as I don't believe box turtles are as prone to MBD as tortoises. And when they do get it it usually isn't something that looks like typical pyramiding.
I'd just provide them with the correct environment and with cuttlebone and lots of nightcrawlers and they should be fine.
Must have been in care that wasn't ideal. I have a a group of yearlings that are probably 1-1.5 inches. So mine are a little slow growing but very smooth. Many people achieve large size so quickly by feeding a staple of commercial pellets. I'm guessing these guys were raised very dry on a diet comprising mostly of commercial pellets. They would appreciate a very humid environment I'm sure and a good varied diet. Glad you got them in your care
They are outside in a big enclosure and have been soaked several times. Our weather is 75-90 degrees with 75-90% humidity right now with daily rains. They've been eating worms and can pick between direct sunlight and moist shade.
Nice friend! 
They might be bumpy, but they are sweet.
They might be bumpy, but they are sweet.
Now that they are getting UVB from the sun the shells will start growing correctly. The UVB plus calcium plus the right diet will help these immensely.
These two are doing well. Both are eating a varied diet. The one with less yellow struggles to walk at times. His front feet barely reach past his plastron. The brighter one is very fast.
Yes, they are big enough as year olds. My year olds are a bit smaller than they are actually. With the shape of their scutes I'm betting on low calcium and high protein, which caused them to grow too fast for their age and not enough calcium to help support better shell growth. These guys can definitely get full blown MBD apparent with their shells although it tends to cause bumpy shells that look shrunken compared to the body rather than full pyramiding. Give lots of calcium and sunlight and the rest of the shell growth should come in nicely. They may always have little peaks but luckily are young enough to be able to normalize for the most part. Sounds like you have them on the right track!
