how to make an enclosure for eastern box turtles

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SANDRA_MEISSNEST

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Hi guys,
I will be getting on wednesday 3 adult eastern box turtles. can someone tell me how tall the wall should be ? Can they climb up ? How big should i make it it will be outside.
If u have pictures of ideas, or any advise please let me know
Thanks


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johnsonnboswell

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They can climb well, particularly up corners- so put a cap over the corners. I have a lip around the top of my walls, too.

Around 18" may work.
 

lisa127

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They will try to climb anything in their enclosures. I agree that 18 inches is a good height.
 

luvpetz27

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Mine will stand on their hind leggs and stretch to try and reach the top! the higher the better!! :)
 

Terry Allan Hall

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For an easy to build enclosure, I like landscaping timbers...they come in 8' pieces, so for 3 Easterns, I'd suggest build the enclosure about 8' X 16", 5-6 timbers high, and, as suggested by johnsonboswell, cap the corners, at least, and a lip around all walls is even better...Box turtles are remarkable climbers!

Depending on your soil, you may need to bury rocks, fencing or concrete below the walls, maybe 18", because box turtles can dig.

Once built, they'll need shelter from the sun, a large enough water dish that all three can get into it at one time, a few bushes to hide under (to make them feel more relaxed) and things to climb over, under and around - large rocks, logs, tunnels made of large pipes of various types/materials...use your imagination!

One person here rigged up a pretty cool waterfall into the water container that not only looked great, but also raised the humidity in the enclosure nicely, which Easterns certainly appreciate.

Some pics of different designs and materials, to offer ideas:

KristinasPictures264.jpg

attachment.php

7927pen1cr-med.jpg

87193_100_2165.jpg

Hope this is of help.


Terry Allan Hall said:
For an easy to build enclosure, I like landscaping timbers...they come in 8' pieces, so for 3 Easterns, I'd suggest build the enclosure about 8' X 16", 5-6 timbers high, and, as suggested by johnsonboswell, cap the corners, at least, and a lip around all walls is even better...Box turtles are remarkable climbers!

Depending on your soil, you may need to bury rocks, fencing or concrete below the walls, maybe 18", because box turtles can dig.

Once built, they'll need shelter from the sun, a large enough water dish that all three can get into it at one time, a few bushes to hide under (to make them feel more relaxed) and things to climb over, under and around - large rocks, logs, tunnels made of large pipes of various types/materials...use your imagination!

One person here rigged up a pretty cool waterfall into the water container that not only looked great, but also raised the humidity in the enclosure nicely, which Easterns certainly appreciate.

Some pics of different designs and materials, to offer ideas:

KristinasPictures264.jpg

attachment.php

7927pen1cr-med.jpg

87193_100_2165.jpg

Hope this is of help. With a little advanced planning, a tortoisarium can become a very attractive focal point of your yard.
 

jtrux

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I recently lost an adult ornate who climbed straight up a railroad tie so I agree with everyone here, make it tall and put a lip on it.
 

SANDRA_MEISSNEST

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wow those are beautiful pictures and thank you so much for the idea

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do you guys think I can use the old enclosure from my sulcatas?
they got no a bigger enclosure and I could use the small one for the boc turtles . I have also a wired mesh in the ground what is like one feet under the ground is that alright?
I will send you a picture.


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terryo

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My turtle garden is about 22 feet by 7 ft...I think. I put lots of plants...hosta's are great as they will bring slugs, and in the Spring, when bugs are not yet up, they like the little shoots. Creeping Jenny is great and is a ground cover and they can walk on it and it never dies. I have a little fig tree in mine ....the love the fallen figs. A small pond is great ....I put some gold fish, which they rarely eat, but they do love the mosquito lava. I have a cave on one end of the garden for them to hibernate in the Winter, and they also use it for bad weather.
This is last year.


I moved the pond toward the middle now...this year



24zg2ae.jpg
 

SANDRA_MEISSNEST

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this is amazing are you a landscape designer

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would they hibernate also in Florida?

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did you ever get eggs and hatchlings?

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terryo

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Thank you. I'm in NY, so they hibernate in the Winter months here. I never take in any eggs, but I do find some babies in the Summer, sometimes. I have two babies inside now. I've had box turtles all my life, but the one's I have now are pretty young. My Father was a gardener, and had box turtles too. I just love flowers and plants, so incorporated it into a turtle garden.
 

Terry Allan Hall

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SANDRA_MEISSNEST said:
this is amazing are you a landscape designer

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would they hibernate also in Florida?

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did you ever get eggs and hatchlings?

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TerryO is a landscape artiste! :cool:
 

SANDRA_MEISSNEST

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That is so cute with the babies! Looks awsome

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How big is the enclosure? And the pond?

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SANDRA_MEISSNEST

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Hi,
Do i have to put underground wire mesh? So they cant dig to deep? Or is that not necessary? thanks for the input

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Moozillion

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TerryO's turtle garden is DA BOMB!!! I never get tired of seeing it!
 

Terry Allan Hall

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SANDRA_MEISSNEST said:
Hi,
Do i have to put underground wire mesh? So they cant dig to deep? Or is that not necessary? thanks for the input

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I use a mesh bottom, myself, but it's a judgement call.

I dug down 3", laid the 1st layer of landscaping timbers, nailed on the mesh, flipped timbers over (so the mesh was down), then built up the rest of the tortoisarium. Afterwards, poured in dirt to the level of the outside ground and installed the various features.

Took most of a day, but I enjoy this sort of thing. :cool:


Moozilion said:
TerryO's turtle garden is DA BOMB!!! I never get tired of seeing it!

Wish I could do it as artistically as Terry) does...she is VERY talented. :)
 

SANDRA_MEISSNEST

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Is 3" enough deep for egg laying?

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I bet it took you all day its a lot of work

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Millerlite

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3 inches is not deep enough at all, substrate should be deep like 8-10 inches more of you can. Not only will it e moist underneath if prepped right it will help hold humidity and a next for a box turtle is roughly 6inches deep sometimes my female will dig deeper or less deep, all depends but giving them the option is the key. People think turtles are like hey I have eggs lay. When of fertile a female will take her time and are very picky with nesting. Twigs, not moist enough, too moist, not deep enough, rocks , all can lead to a abandon laying spot and on to another spot. Deeper substrate is the way to go.
 

SANDRA_MEISSNEST

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I will mske it 12 inches....i think that would be good.

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Terry Allan Hall

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SANDRA_MEISSNEST said:
Is 3" enough deep for egg laying?

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I bet it took you all day its a lot of work

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For nesting, I'd suggest a 2'L by 2'W by 12"D hole...just cut through the mesh, dig the hole, line the hole with more mesh, fill with a 50/50 mixture of leaf mold (or mulch) and clean dirt.

Keep it moistened daily.
 

SANDRA_MEISSNEST

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Thanks Terry! Just regular mulch? Can i use the red one,i have many bags of it

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How much should i fill the hole in? How many inches ,

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