i wanted to ask the group if i should be worried about my box turtle’s shell. he eats a pretty well-rounded diet, calcium supplements, cuttlebone, gets plenty of water and lighting. but i am a bit worried about his shell. see photos. should i be worried? what may be missing from his care?
It's just really, really dry. He needs a whole lot more moisture and humidity in his life. Pour a whole pitcherful of water into the enclosure then mix it up with your hand. Add more water as it dries out.
Nice healthy turtle....good diet....now all you have to do is to add water, and presto!
Don't feel bad, Turtle4, many folks grow up with the impression that all land turtles like "dry & arid". These guys don't.....we usually get around 40-50" of rain a year here and these guys like it much wetter than dryer! I used to catch one box turtle perennially, in a hollowed out rock full of leaves & water, for 3-4 years in a row when I lived in Glen Burnie as a kid. That's where I caught him each year!
Get your guy in a couple of soaks a day, hook him with more wet stuff & a place to hide and he'll be good to go!
Pay special attention to what folks here say.....they knew their stuff, this isn't a children's website.