My ornate box turtle hibernates for 8 weeks regardless of lights and or heat. Even if she can’t see outside she seems to know when the days get longer/shorter. This year when she puts herself to bed, I’m going to let her hibernate in our insulated workshop. There is some evidence that females...
With a kitchen scale, you can make perfectly proportioned “turtle meatballs” then freeze. I use ice trays with lids. As they thaw they get mushy and gross, just the way box turtles like them ?. I make 48 at a time and then supplement with what we’re having for dinner if suitable and in season...
I have an ornate box turtle and a Herman’s tortoise here in Illinois. The box turtle hibernates early Nov-late Mar. Two quick things: if you need a vet the Wildlife Vet Clinic at the U of I is very good. If your box turtle is an ornate it requires a state endangered species permit, it’s free...
I had someone suggest using the wildlife vet at our local university because they spend more time on reptiles than regular small animal vets. You could find a wildlife rehab that could give you a good suggestion.
For adults, I think it helps to keep them somewhere they can hear your voice and the noises of the household. I took in an adult ornate bt and I would talk with her every time I walked by her cage and gave her a few strokes on the shell. After about 6 months she will come out and see what I’m...
I have an ornate box turtle that eats nearly all her poop. My vet at the University of Illinois told me it’s very common in terrestrial turtles. 1. they gain the extra nutrients and 2. It helps shield the presence from predators. It makes it easy to keep her cage clean, but I never kiss her...
When I was three, my family went out to the west coast and in Tijuana you could ride giant tortoises. I know it’s awful! But it was a long time ago. I was hooked. Since then tortoises have been my favorite.
Hello fellow Wyomingite! Although now I‘m in illinois. One thing I do in my house is have radiant floor heating in my master bath. Something I learned from a cousin in Thermopolis. It’s a people and tortoise pleaser in the winter! The tortoise under supervision, of course!