Eastern

[Daisy’ s mom]

Thank you so very much for the information. I appreciate it.

So I need to change its name for sure. As he has a Vet Specialist appointment in the morning.

He has a cuttlebone. And I am giving his a couple chunks of aloe

Seeing a reptile specialist tomorrow. I expect to get a lot of answers from her as well.

I know the care it was receiving , or lack there of was seriously lacking.

During one of the soakings, it turned around in the bowl to look at me.

Thank you.

 

[domalle]

I am doing daily soaks. I have given a couple of chunks of aloe, but it hasn’t touched them yet.

Looking forward to the vet visit tomorrow.

I keep wanting to help her skin. Poor thing must be miserable.

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I assure you she is far from 'miserable' and her future is bright. Box turtles are hardy little animals and will readily shake off much worse maladies than any she manifests. And your goodwill and concern assures me that she landed in the right hands. Best to you and your son and new girl.

 

[Daisy’ s mom]

as said above his diet needs immediate attention ...... the problems he exhibits is surely do his diet and probably lack of uvb ......... also as stated, if possible, an appropriate outside enclosure on natural ground with plenty of cover, sun and water would go a long way to improving his health ...... if outside is not an option ,properly set up indoor enclosures can work ......

I am working on changing its diet. I bought Kale and some seafood crabmeat. Also cherry tomatoes and aloe chunks.

 

[Daisy’ s mom]

I assure you she is far from 'miserable' and her future is bright. Box turtles are hardy little animals and will readily shake off much worse maladies than any she manifests. And your goodwill and concern assures me that she landed in the right hands. Best to you and your son and new girl.

Thank you so much. That means so much to me. 😊

 

[Daisy’ s mom]

I am working on changing its diet. I bought Kale and some seafood crabmeat. Also cherry tomatoes and aloe chunks.

The outside enclosure will come in a few weeks weather permitting.

 

[Daisy’ s mom]

Bright eyes indicate Eastern box turtles health and survival capabilities under even marginal captive conditions.
Grossly overgrown beak and nails need attention. Distended beak will impede access to improved dietary items.
Splayed nails will impair mobility and lead to leg deformity, Nails and beak should be pared back. Must be addressed gradually as veins extend out in the overgrowth of each and bleeding will occur if trimmed all at once.
Benefits will accrue if housed outside in WV with protection from predators.
They are creatures of the sun and need access to natural elements.
Taper off inappropriate dog and cat food and adjust diet. They are omnivorous.
Nice female.

I finally found this again. Thank you.

 

[domalle]

Closeup of the eye photo in post #7 looks red to me, so this is a male.

As mark1 said, he needs appropriate (live) food. I fed mine earthworms for years and he would go nuts for them.

If you have found a decent turtle/tortoise vet, they should be able to a beak trim on site; this will be much easier on you and the turtle. Your turtle may also have a bit of metabolic bone disease, based on the oddly shaped feet and somewhat flared/curled up marginal scutes on the rear shell; this is due to calcium deficiency and lack of UVB lighting. Related, it probably has other vitamin deficiencies. Look into getting RepCal Herptivite and adding it to the live food a couple of times per week.

Regarding the color development, there were some studies on eastern box turtles that showed that sunlight exposure played a key role in development of yellow coloring. There was a critical time frame (around 2 years of age) in which the yellow coloring developed. Basically, young turtles without bright yellow coloration were fitted with GPS trackers that covered up a spot on the shell. When the researchers tracked them down a few years later, they had developed the bright yellow coloring as is typical of eastern box turtles, but the area underneath the tracker was still the drab yellow color. After they removed the tracker completely, and found the turtles again several years later, the covered area did not further develop the bright yellow color. This pertained to the vibrancy of the yellow color, rather than making usual darker areas more yellow. You may have missed the time window for this turtle to develop bright yellow coloring on the shell. (link)

The pale skin on the other hand may turn a brighter orange and yellow with improved diet and daily exposure to sunlight. I had this happen with a turtle that was kept poorly without any UVB--areas of skin that should have been yellow were a pale white, and turned a nice bright yellow after a summer in an outdoor enclosure.

Interesting link btw. Thanks.