I rescued a box turtle and need some help.

[Calderburton]

Yes, definitely try to feed him other food items... Just don't be too surprised if he isn't keen on eating any of them. Box turtles can be notoriously picky, devouring an item one week and refusing to eat it the next. I have better luck trying to get my juvenile to expand her culinary horizons during the spring.

If Speedy eats romaine reliably, you can gradually mix other items into it. You can even soften (by soaking) commercial turtle or tortoise food pellets and smear it on the romaine.

Thank you

 

[Pastel Tortie]

These are some other resources you may find useful.
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/care.htm General turtle care
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheets.htm Caresheets link (various)
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/cs-ornateboxie.htm Ornate box turtle
http://www.anapsid.org/box.html Solid resource for a variety of herp issues and species
https://www.completecritter.com/box-turtle.html Based on the Merck Vet Manual
http://turtlepuddle.org/american/boxcare.html by Mary Hopson

 

[ColleenT]

Thank you. Should I try to feed him other food items?

http://www.boxturtlefacts.org/Feeding_North_American_Box_Turtles.pdf

 

[Calderburton]

Thank you

 

[Calderburton]

He ate!
I fed him some shredded acorn squash, prickly pear fruit, and some sweet potato in a salad. He also ate some super worms

 

[TortoiseRacket]

Try mixing in some chunky cat food. You can also try to mix in very small amounts of crested gecko food by Pangea. It lets out a soothing aroma for the turtle. Try mixing coconut coir and orchid bark, or instead of bark mix in a little bit of perlite/vermiculite free bonsai soil. Good luck!
-Mickey

 

[Pastel Tortie]

Try mixing in some chunky cat food. You can also try to mix in very small amounts of crested gecko food by Pangea. It lets out a soothing aroma for the turtle.

Try mixing coconut coir and orchid bark, or instead of bark mix in a little bit of perlite/vermiculite free bonsai soil. Good luck!
-Mickey

Point of clarification... That last part starting with the coconut coir and orchid bark is substrate-related, not food-related.

Mickey, please don't be offended.
I only mention the clarification to prevent any future confusion and to assist with translation if needed. We have a number of Forum members whose first language is not English. Our members come from and live all across the world. It's one of the things that makes the TFO such an awesome place.

 

[TortoiseRacket]

Point of clarification... That last part starting with the coconut coir and orchid bark is substrate-related, not food-related.

Mickey, please don't be offended.
I only mention the clarification to prevent any future confusion and to assist with translation if needed. We have a number of Forum members whose first language is not English. Our members come from and live all across the world. It's one of the things that makes the TFO such an awesome place.

Nooo, I am not offended! By pointing that out you made it clearer for people to do the right thing, why should I be upset? I’m here to learn! Thanks for pointing that out!
-Mickey

 

[ColleenT]

He ate!
I fed him some shredded acorn squash, prickly pear fruit, and some sweet potato in a salad. He also ate some super worms

That is all great except for the super worms. in the article i provided above, it explains why mealworms are NOT ok for box turtles.

 

[KBeam]

I have attempted to feed him some earthworms but he wouldn’t take them. He only wants romane lettuce

Try pumpkin purée and strawberries.

 

[Ray--Opo]

This is an old, male Terrapene ornata. This particular sub species used to be called luteola, however "they" have since done away with that name.




And this folks (the above quote) is why I'm dead set AGAINST adopting a turtle or tortoise out to be a class room pet.

That long tip part needs to be clipped off. Because of the length and shape of that overgrown part, it might be easier to grind it off with a Dremmel instead of clipping it.

So can the beek be trimmed at home or should he be taken in.

If I had the dremel in my hand it wouldn't be pretty. ​

 

[Pastel Tortie]

So can the beek be trimmed at home or should he be taken in.

If I had the dremel in my hand it wouldn't be pretty. ​

Well, I think that's the answer. If the keeper is not comfortable and confident about trimming the beak, it would be best to take the turtle to a good herp vet at least the first time, so the vet or vet techs can show the owner how to do it.

There is also something to be said for letting someone else be the "bad guy," especially when they have lots of extra hands on staff to hold the critter still.

 

[ColleenT]

So can the beek be trimmed at home or should he be taken in.

If I had the dremel in my hand it wouldn't be pretty. ​

DO NOT attempt that at home. A vet will know how much and the correct shape for the turtle. also will know what cannot be removed, if tutle presents with an oddly shaped beak.

 

[Calderburton]

An update on his beak! There are no vets in my area that could trim the beak but they did offer an anesthetic. I went to the vet they put him under and I trimmed the beak. He is doing much better and is eating anything I give him!

 

[Yvonne G]

That's good news.