Can I see your indoor set up for your boxies?

[turtlelou]

I'm going to be helping the parks department set up new enclosures for their turtles. I would love to see some examples of indoor set ups . I need all the info I can get to give these guys a better life.
Also, I'm very confused on the lighting. What should I suggest to get for them? They have a white incadescent light now...is that ok?

 

[mikeh]

Box turtles really should be housed outdoors. As I didn't hibernate mine here is an indoor wooden 4x3 crate set up for EBT.
Few inches of top soil covered with forest litter and leaves 4" deep, always moist with daily mists/rain. Tons of plants for cover, some rocks, wooden log, large soaking dish, full spectrum fluorescent plant lights to keep plants alive, UVB light and low wattage basking flood light or CHE. He was as happy as box turtle can be in a small 4x3 space.

 

[mikeh]

This is an indoor/outdoor 6x3 mobile pen heavily planted with sturdy plants/bushes.

 

[turtlelou]

Omg that is beautiful! What a lucky boxie for the winter. How often would the substrate need a change? Did you plant the plants or are the in pots in the substrate? Did he try to escape from the crate?
Thank you !

 

[wiccan_chicken]

I need pictures but I have my boxie set up in a large cement mixing tub (shes only about three inches at this point) with deep topsoil, Tickweed plated in the middle for ground cover and shade, a vine planted next to a jar buried in the ground filled with moss, another log hide, and water with seeds sprouting up. She's outside for the summer but this way she's safe and able to enjoy the rain. When I move to a permanent house with my love I plan on building her a large scale enclosure with many plants etc.

Basics on keeping these guys healthy is a nice water source they can soak in. Lots of plants and logs to hide in/climb on and some nice deep dirt that is kept moist. If an earthworm can't live in it, neither can a boxie. OH and dappled sunlight. Spooks home is set where she has mostly shade on her with patches of sun light here and there.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Substrate change is debatable. If you spot clean and continue to add dead leaves, and keep a few worms in there, you can go years without changing it out.

 

[turtlelou]

Substrate change is debatable. If you spot clean and continue to add dead leaves, and keep a few worms in there, you can go years without changing it out.

Wow!