Box turtle habitat

Laura Campos

New Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2019
Messages
19
Location (City and/or State)
Pomona
Hello,

Wow! I'm really glad I found this site. Everyone has been so helpful. Thanks! I have a question about my indoor boxie enclosure. I mist down the enclosure in the morning before I leave to work. The substrate is sphag moss and forest floor. I am gone for several hours and when I come home, most of the enclosure is dry. Would it be a good idea to invest in an humidifier/fogger for the enclosure? Also does he need 2 water sources. I have one he can soak in and a smaller one for drinking, but sometimes I catch him trying to sit in his drinking bowl.

Thanks!
 

Pastel Tortie

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 31, 2018
Messages
4,264
Location (City and/or State)
North Florida
Misting is good to simulate rainfall, which boxies tend to like. However, you will need to add more water to the substrate to keep it slightly damp and keep the humidity up. Personally, I just pour a large cup of water (gently) in the corners or along the sides of my boxie's indoor enclosure when the substrate starts looking or feeling dry. The water will work its way through the substrate on its own.

A single water source should be fine, but it doesn't hurt to have more. The big thing is to make sure your boxie is making use of whatever water feature you have in the enclosure. It sounds like your boxie is more comfortable with the smaller dish, but probably needs to graduate to a size he can fit into better.

Tell us more about the two water sources, how they're set up in the enclosure, and the size of the boxie. If possible, pictures are helpful. :)
 

Eric Phillips

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2014
Messages
1,094
Location (City and/or State)
Ohio
Hello,

Wow! I'm really glad I found this site. Everyone has been so helpful. Thanks! I have a question about my indoor boxie enclosure. I mist down the enclosure in the morning before I leave to work. The substrate is sphag moss and forest floor. I am gone for several hours and when I come home, most of the enclosure is dry. Would it be a good idea to invest in an humidifier/fogger for the enclosure? Also does he need 2 water sources. I have one he can soak in and a smaller one for drinking, but sometimes I catch him trying to sit in his drinking bowl.

Thanks!

What type of lighting are you using? Is your enclosure an open top?
 

Laura Campos

New Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2019
Messages
19
Location (City and/or State)
Pomona
Hello,
Thanks for the replies. Here's a little bit of a back story. Sam, my three toed boxie is about 5-6 inches in size. I don't know how old he is. He is a rescue. I have no idea what happened to him, but there has been some trauma. He is missing a good chunk of the front of his shell and is not able to completely close. Also he is missing the top part of his beak and can not eat anything hard. It almost looks like he has a cleft palate. The vet says to feed him soft food only. I've had him for a few months and I'm completely enamored of him. He has a good size outdoor enclosure that I let him hang out in for a few hours everyday, longer on the weekends, but he spends most of his time inside his condo which sits under a window in a spare bedroom. It measures 3'x2' and has a dark side where he burrows in his moss most of the day. on the light side (open with a grated top) I have a heat lamp and a UVB lamp that are on 10-12hrs a day. The heat lamp sits over his soaking pool, water and food dish. I am trying to keep a consistent schedule with him for feeding, but he is a poor eater. I've tried just about everything. he was eating superworms when I first got him, but now he doesn't seem to like them. he won't eat night crawlers either. He'll eat some fruits and occasionally box turtle food and I have seen him hunting outside and eat some bugs. he doesn't seem to be gaining weight. he weighs almost a pound. he's very lively and active and hysterical to watch. I just want him to be healthy and happy.

I will try to download some pictures.

thanks.
 
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