Hey all, just wanted to upload a few shots on my turtle. He spent this winter outside as I had enough maple and live oak leaves to make a nice thick bed. Winter was mild so he actually did not spend too much time underground.
This winter, I changed out the small shallow pond with a preformed 120 gallon pond. I lined the sides with small retaining blocks. Since the temps have come up, I can't keep this fellow out the water, especially when the sun is on it in the morning. It has a small filter but I plan to drain it and refill every few weeks. The retaining blocks makes it pretty easy for him to get in and out.
The small ferns really filled in since winter was so mild. He has a preferred shelter spot between two of them right by the pond.
For food, I have been giving him scraps on my cat's food each morning. Twice a week, I mix up some Box Turtle Food pellet with a can of cat food and a can of insects (crickets, etc). It all gets mixed together and dumped in a pile on the leaves. He usually eats this up over 2 days. Pretty soon, I will stock the pond with some mosquito fish.
Now as a surprise, I now have a small red ear slider turtle in the pond. No idea where from or how, but he is in there. Not sure what to do with him.... I would say that currently, the slider is about 20% of the box turtle in size and stays away from him. When the box is in the pond, the slider dives below the submerged leaf litter. Otherwise, he is perched on some buried driftwood. Time will tell on this one I guess.
Enjoy,
Chris
This winter, I changed out the small shallow pond with a preformed 120 gallon pond. I lined the sides with small retaining blocks. Since the temps have come up, I can't keep this fellow out the water, especially when the sun is on it in the morning. It has a small filter but I plan to drain it and refill every few weeks. The retaining blocks makes it pretty easy for him to get in and out.
The small ferns really filled in since winter was so mild. He has a preferred shelter spot between two of them right by the pond.
For food, I have been giving him scraps on my cat's food each morning. Twice a week, I mix up some Box Turtle Food pellet with a can of cat food and a can of insects (crickets, etc). It all gets mixed together and dumped in a pile on the leaves. He usually eats this up over 2 days. Pretty soon, I will stock the pond with some mosquito fish.
Now as a surprise, I now have a small red ear slider turtle in the pond. No idea where from or how, but he is in there. Not sure what to do with him.... I would say that currently, the slider is about 20% of the box turtle in size and stays away from him. When the box is in the pond, the slider dives below the submerged leaf litter. Otherwise, he is perched on some buried driftwood. Time will tell on this one I guess.
Enjoy,
Chris