Junior the box turtle

Tjsalyers

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Someone dropped him off so I need a little help I need help identify his age and gender I'm gonna keep him

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Pastel Tortie

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Can you show us a picture of the full carapace, a profile view from the side? The reason I'm asking is because it takes a while for box turtles to start getting their higher dome shape on the back.
 

Pastel Tortie

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I just looked at the picture from the side in the other thread. Definitely not a hatchling. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable guessing as to age, either. @Yvonne G would be a good one to ask.

Do you know anything about this turtle's history or background?
 

Tjsalyers

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I just looked at the picture from the side in the other thread. Definitely not a hatchling. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable guessing as to age, either. @Yvonne G would be a good one to ask.

Do you know anything about this turtle's history or background?
Nope someone dumped him
 

Pastel Tortie

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If you have a ruler or tape measure handy, it might help to know how long the turtle is. Straight carapace length (SCL) is from the front to the back of carapace (top shell). Not over the curve, just straight. You/we can get an idea of you set a ruler down next to the turtle and take a picture.
 

Pastel Tortie

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I looked at the pictures again, and I noticed the box turtle's hinge seems well developed and functional. That doesn't help (us) much, except it rules out the turtle being very young.

That being said, you should probably read through the box turtle care sheets at the top of this section (if you haven't already), including the one for hatchlings. There's good information in both.
 

PJay

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It is a darker colored eastern box turtle. They are native to Indiana and protected by state law. You can have one as a pet but you would need proof of payment, adoption papers or some documentation from a collecting trip to prove that it came from another state. Based on your pictures I'm guessing it is an approximately 10 year old male. We would need some size measurements and to see a picture of the underside of the tail to know for sure. Mature males have larger, longer tails and their vent is farther away from the plastron than in females.

https://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3378.htm
 
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I second that he is a male Eastern Box Turtle about 10-15 years old as his growth rings on scutes are still “crisp” looking.
He is still considered quite young as his kind can easily live 80-100 years.
Looking at growth rings, he might have been a wild individual until recently rather than a pet turtle.
Box Turtles are very stubborn and he might not do so well with sudden change of his life. He is probably feeling insecure as he cannot find place to hide or to be buried under. Providing multiple hides such as half logs and substrate like leaf litter deep enough for him to dig and bury himself should give him some comfort.
also he would enjoy a bit deeper water dish that he can wade in.
is there any chance that he was displaced from wooded area near you?
 

Yertel turtel

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Someone dropped him off so I need a little help I need help identify his age and gender I'm gonna keep him
Looks like my western box did after we found her she had been lost in our back yard for two years. Once she got healthy again her colors came out on her shell. Brown eyes makes Junior a girl.
 

Yertel turtel

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This is Yurtle now
 

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Tjsalyers

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If you have a ruler or tape measure handy, it might help to know how long the turtle is. Straight carapace length (SCL) is from the front to the back of carapace (top shell). Not over the curve, just straight. You/we can get an idea of you set a ruler down next to the turtle and take a picture.
Okay
How long ago? Have you tried giving the turtle a soak yet?
Yea I've let him in my big lake to swim
 

Tjsalyers

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Here is juinor tail and eyes
 

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Tjsalyers

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Heres a picture of his or her tail
 

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