My box turtles

[Neal]

I was 10 years old when I got my first box turtle. That's when the addiction started with me. I made a lot of mistakes, being in AZ you can imagine how hard it was. After some trial and error I actually got it down pretty good. I think at one point my heard was over 20 turtles. They were all "screamers" if that's even a term you hear anymore.

Anyway, I was going through some old pictures and came across these few and thought you might like them. A couple are a bit blurry but still good enough. Believe it or not, these were my least colored ones.

Someday, when I have the resources, I'll get back into boxies...though not so motivated as you don't see any like this much anymore.

 

[John]

hot dang neal what don't you have?hey i got some of them there turtles in my yard ya want some?

 

[Neal]

We could trade, leopards for boxies!

 

[John]

yep that we could. hey those real colorful ones are those hawaiians?

 

[terryo]

Go for it Neal. Boxies are my favorite. I'm on the search for a high red male Eastern, if anyone comes across one. I saw one with an almost black shell, and lots of red on the face, neck and legs, and fell in love with it.....I'm not giving up. Most of mine are outside hibernating now, except for three that had to come in.

 

[John]

hey neal joking aside great pic's this thread bring's back memories of things i havn't thought of in a long time.wish i was 10 again! john

 

[Kristina]

Gorgeous Neal. I love Easterns but I'm not allowed to keep them. I do have a trio of Three Toeds, and what I wouldn't give for a male like that!!!

You can still find the bright ones, but man are they expensive.

 

[Neal]

Back in my hay day I had a source where I could get a "screamer" eastern for about $100. Any color, male or female, it was a good time.

 

[yagyujubei]

Go for it Neal. Boxies are my favorite. I'm on the search for a high red male Eastern, if anyone comes across one. I saw one with an almost black shell, and lots of red on the face, neck and legs, and fell in love with it.....I'm not giving up. Most of mine are outside hibernating now, except for three that had to come in.

I prefer the yellows, but I'll keep an open eye for a red male, I know last year I saw a couple of exceptional ones.
It won't be long now til they're all up and about. Gotta love em.

 

[tortoises101]

Awesome boxies Neal. I guess you can never stop at just one.

 

[Saloli]

They are pretty turtles but please tell me you didn't keep the tree toes and eastern boxers together. Were any of them captive bred? I don't know about you guys but I don't like the idea of mixing differnt locals and subspecies or selective breeding. The main point for me in herpeculture is to maintain species and preferable with as much of their genetic variability intact. Yagyujubei what does your name mean? Also what do spb and spp stand for?

 

[Neal]

That's good for you, I however did keep my three toed's and eastern's together intentionally.

Not that I feel I need to explain myself, but this picture was taken approximately four years ago, I have not had any box turtles since. After getting into tortoises, my opinions have changed about mixing species.

 

[Saloli]

I wasn't asking you to explain but thank you.

 

[Neal]

I wasn't asking you to explain but thank you.

I know, it was said in case anyone else feels like they need to say something similar, and you're welcome.

 

[terryo]

I'm afraid I'm guilty of keeping my three Toed's with my Eastern's. I also keep my Ornate with them during the Summer months. She comes inside in the Winter. I don't incubate any eggs, although most of mine are juvies. Years ago I had a lot of boxies, and I kept them all together...Eastern's and Three Toed's, and my Ornate (the same one I have now). Occasionally during the Summer I would find some babies, but never took in any eggs. I don't sell any, or release them, so to me it doesn't matter what they produce. I would not keep different species of Tortoises together, nor would I mix a breeding group......Cherries, with Northers...etc. Just how I do things.

 

[Neal]

I'm afraid I'm guilty of keeping my three Toed's with my Eastern's. I also keep my Ornate with them during the Summer months. She comes inside in the Winter. I don't incubate any eggs, although most of mine are juvies. Years ago I had a lot of boxies, and I kept them all together...Eastern's and Three Toed's, and my Ornate (the same one I have now). Occasionally during the Summer I would find some babies, but never took in any eggs. I don't sell any, or release them, so to me it doesn't matter what they produce. I would not keep different species of Tortoises together, nor would I mix a breeding group......Cherries, with Northers...etc. Just how I do things.

No need to feel guilty, it's just a matter of opinion. A lot of it depends on what your intentions are. I felt the same as you back in the day, I wasn't selling or really breeding much. Now it seems to me that true easterns, 3-toed, etc...are less common than hybrids. So, as far as box turtles go, I wouldn't mix again with the intention of breeding...that's just how I feel, to each their own.

 

[Saloli]

are there even any boxers still on Staten island, Terryo? i mean that aren't pets or family members

 

[Tccarolina]

terryo,
Here's my subadult reddish male. He's not for sale but he is red! His name's Redford, and he's redder than his pic appears. I can't wait to see how he turns out when he matures!

Neal,
Did your EBT's ever stabilize in your climate? It's been a struggle for me over the years, but it seems mine are finally adjusting to my central valley of CA (hot and dry) climate.
Also, any pictures of your other EBT's you had? Those are very nice looking! It's amazing the variation and sheer beauty easterns can display.

Steve

 

[Neal]

Yes they did. I kept a solid group for nearly 10 years in my climate without any problems, they would even hibernate in the winter. It took them about 2 years to 'stabalize', but once they did they were good. I would get babies from time to time, I talk to the person I sold them to every now and again and she's told me that they are baby making machines now. They're still in AZ too. I'll try to look up some pictures, I didn't have a good camera back in those days so there isn't much. One female I had was neon yellow all over.

 

[terryo]

OMG! Steve where do you live?? I'm coming to rob him. He is exactly what I am looking for. That black with the red. So beautiful. Wow!

Saloli (what is your name?) There are lots of boxies here is SI. Three quarters of the Island is woods, and ponds. I have a license to own and collect, (for educational purposes) Once a year you have to go to a school and do a little presentation with your boxies, and have them sign a paper saying that you did this to renew your license. But to be honest with you I never take any from the woods, although I've seen many. The woods here are deep in places, and they are so happy there I just could never think of doing this. Most of the boxies that I have I've gotten from rescues, and friends, and I still have my old Ornate...she's over 30 years old now. I've just never taken any from the wild....although if I saw a high red, like Steve's, I might be tempted.

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This is my pretty girl (?) that Yvonne gave us...Chewy...in the turtle garden.