I am wondering what species of box turtle these two hatchlings are.? I bought ornates but think I was sent easterns. 
Ornate or eastern box turtle?
- Thread starter Bducks16
- Start date
Hmm. Are you thinking a hybrid possibly?
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- Nov 17, 2012
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Look more eastern than anything.
That's what I thought too. Of course the site I bought them from never returned emails and they didn't have a phone number to call. I ordered them a year ago and gave up trying to get ahold of them. I thought as they grew I would be able to tell better for sure what they are but in this past year they haven't grown at all. Here's a picture when they were sent to me one year ago. 
They have never eaten well. It took about a month to get them to eat and only red wiggler worms, everything else they don't touch. The bigger one has ate a meal worm once. When they do eat it's one worm a week and usually only half the worm. There is a dozen or more worms in their peat moss substrate. They might hunt them down at night I don't know. They have never been active always hiding and sleeping. Other than all that they appear healthy visually. Oh and I shouldn't say they hasn't grown at all there is visual growth rings. The bigger one has grown a quarter inch and the smaller one a eighth inch
As far as I know same age.
even though box turtles are omnivores at that age they tend to be more carnivorous. Have you tried red wigglers. have you tried different fruits and vegetables? lean dog food? Are they eating greens?
Red wigglers are all I could get them to eat. I tried blackberries, strawberries, and bananas. Mazuri tortoise diet, romaine lettuce and wet dog food hoping the smell would attract them. I'm thinking they aren't staying humid enough. I don't use a heat lamp just a uv bulb. I'm getting rid of their open enclosure and ordered a greenhouse off amazon hoping that might stay humid enough for them. Here's what the enclosure they are in looks like and the new one in the mail from Amazon. 
Temp inside my house is 72. The substrate is measuring 70 on my temp. Gun. There is a light bulb like this six inches over head that puts off a little heat during the day time. Not sure of the temperature under the bulb. What is a good basking temperature? I was under the impression low 80s was a good basking temp. I will try a hotter bulb if need be that's no problem. Thank you. 
For sure they're NOT ornata. They usually look like this:
I don't think they're eastern either, but they could be. Is the plastron mainly dark, or is it light tan?
I don't think they're eastern either, but they could be. Is the plastron mainly dark, or is it light tan?
I like the enclosure they are in. I would have just found a way to cover it. I usually use clear shower curtains or plastic sheeting.
Thank you Lisa. That is the conditions the enclosure is in. Low 70s around and 90 under the bulb. I checked the temp with a heat gun this morning. I can get the enclosure covered pretty easy I think. Thanks for the advice.
Thanks Yvonne. That's what I thought too. I thought maybe as they got older the spots would appear. They haven't. The plastron is tan with black markings.
Then it might be an eastern, or even a gulf coast. I guess we'll have to wait until he's older to know for sure.
When I get home I will take a picture of their plastron. Now I'm thinking it is light tan with no black markings. My leopards have black markings I think I'm picturing theirs.
