Turtle found in Calif.

[Yvonne G]

Angi's neighbor found this turtle in her yard. If I'm remembering correctly, they live in Southern California. Angi sent me the pictures and I've let her know that its a box turtle, but she's looking for any helpful hints as to care, etc. There's an old injury, like from being run over by a car, and he kinda' drags a back leg.

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Oh, and Angi: I THINK its a girl!

 

[egyptiandan]

Yes it's a girl and a Three-toed box turtle, Terrapene carolina triunguis. http://boxturtlesite.info/bxbook.html

Danny

 

[Angi]

Thanks for the info. Do you think the under shell will heal? It flexes. Can I really give her Slugs? They seem so gross, but I have LOTS. Any tips on what plants I should look for? All tips are welcome.

 

[Angi]

Well for the first time ever I can't find a worm. I put a slug and snail in her enclosure, but she is not interested. She just seems to want to hang out in the water dish. As I had not planned on having a box turtle yet ( I have been thinking about getting a couple) I need to do a lot of work on her home them hopefully she will be more relaxed. She kind of jumps when she first sees me and then calms down. Poor thing looks like she has been through hell

 

[terracolson]

RE: Turtle found in Calif. Poor baby

I had 3 toed before and mine, LOVED figs.. LOVED them...

They were also extra shy at first. I had one that never opened up to me, never came out of his shell. and then i had the Girls that were very social and friendly.

I am sure she is extra scared. Feed her under something so you cant see her eat and she cant see you.

Like a dog house or something. You can try other sources of protein for her. Do you have a little bit of chicken you can cook for her? mine loved chicken. I cut it up very small.

 

[hali]

ohh bless

 

[Angi]

She does not seem interested in her hide although she did sleep. She is trying to get out of the deck box I have her in. I put a gerranium in iy and she is climbing it. The box is about 5'X2.5' is that too small. It is all I have for now.

 

[terracolson]

Well she is active for sure...

pics are a must...

can you post some of what she is in? a nice overview shot?

is she inside? outside?

 

[dmmj]

My new 3 toe loves mealworms, she/he eats several a day, and she also likes kiwis, (99 cent store usually carries them), that shell wound looks pretty nasty though. Mine is a climber also, loves to climb so I had to increase the height of his/her walls. I call it a him/her because I am not sur eif it is a male or female I actually gonna post some pics to see if someone can sex it.

 

[Angi]

I will take a picture later so everyone can cratique it. I hope Yvonne does not mind posting them. I am too retarded to figure out how to post. That might be a good thing as I love to take pictures.
Right now she is on the shaded side of her box, but not in her hide. She is alert, but does not run to me like my CDTs do. She still shys away from me but does not run or go in her shell. I just gave her a cut up apple, a nectarine and two rollt polly bugs. She was going towards the plate, but would not eat from my hand or in front of me.
BTW~She needs a name. Nothing is jumping out at me like it did with Bob and Shelby my CDTs.
It was going to be Eric because my son has a friend that is named Eric Box and everyone calls him Boxie, but that does not suit her.

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She ate the rollypolly bugs and a little nectarine. She moved to the other side of her enclouser. She seems to be getting comfortable. I am picking up two bags of worm castings and some worms tomorrow. And I will buy some nice plants. If I can't find any organic I will wait until Sat. and go to the farmers market.

 

[Angi]

I just found an earth worm and gave it to her she ate it in about 5 seconds. How many worms sould one eat in a day? She seems to be doing well.

 

[Scooter]

Sounds like she is starting to get settled in

 

[terryo]

She's a beautiful little boxie. My Three Toed's love to sit in the water. They even swim across their pond. I throw in lots of worms, pill bugs, snails, slugs....they love them all. I make a mix with soaked mazuri, fruit, greens, and some veggies, and when they finish there is a treat on the bottom of the plate....usually a butter worm or some other kind of bug. I also throw in some cuttle bones for them to munch on. Im so happy she has found a good home now.

 

[Angi]

I need to get some of this Mazuri that I keep hearing about. Her shell is a mess toatally cracked under and some dents on top. Is there anything I should do for that? She didn't seem interested in the snail I gave her, but she loved the worm. How many should I give her a day. She also has not been interested in veggies , leafs or flowers. She would not go in her hide tonight so I moved it to were she wanted to sleep. I think I will do a lot of rearanging until I figure out where she likes everything. I am going to Escondido tomorrow maybe I will stop by LLL. If I do what should I get for her?

 

[Angi]

Is there anything I can do to help her shell heal? It really has me freaked out. Can the live and grow that way? It flexes when her goes in and out of her shell. Did I mention it is freaking me out?

 

[Itort]

The injury looks to be healing and she sounds to be acting like a normal box turtle, so not to worry. I have seen wild boxies with horrific scars and they were doing fine. Boxies are tough little guys.

 

[Angi]

Good she does seem to be acting like a turtle is suposed to. It just looks so awful.
I think I will name her Boo after the little girl on Monsters Inc. and the shy man that the kids were afraid of in the book To Kill A Mockingbird. I am still thinking though. The whole family has to vote.

 

[Laura]

For worms, try a Fish Bait store.. they sell big night crawlers.. set them up and breed them in compost or such and you will always have some for her.. or just buy more !

 

[Angi]

My son didn't like the name Boo. She hisses, is that normal. When she goes in and out of her shell it flexes. It makes me feel awful.

I know a lady that has a worn casting and worm biz. I am going today to buy some worms and a couple bags of castings.
Is it okay for her to eat the dirt that sticks to the worms?

 

[Yvonne G]

You can also buy night crawlers and other live "bait" from Wal-Mart. Pretty cheap there. (Sporting goods department)