15 new ones

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dmmj

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The big question is will they be adopted out, and when can I get some? :)
 

Yvonne G

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David...

You just drive your little old self right on up here and you can take your pick of anything I've got in the box turtle area with the exception of Easterns and Floridas.
 

dmmj

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You know in a week or two I am probably gonna take you up on your offer.
 

Yvonne G

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dmmj said:
You know in a week or two I am probably gonna take you up on your offer.

I still have the male Russian too...that is, if we can find him.
 

fbsmith3

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I know this will probally cause problems, but I'm only trying to help;

I was told several years ago to put Petroleum jelly on the shells once in a while helps prevent shell rot and keeps box turtles shells healthy. I was also told that too much Petroleum jelly can block the pores and cause the turtle to sufficate. I used to use Petroleum jelly every couple months until I heard the blocked pores.

Cleo always looked clean and shiny and I am paranoid, so I stopped using Petroleum jelly.

What kind of oil are you using on their shells?
 

Yvonne G

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Actually, I do advise people to put some Vaseline on shells...but only on the growth seams. I was going to use mineral oil. I put some on, then take a soft, absorbent cloth and polish most of it off. You don't want to put on so much that it attracts dirt. That may cause the turtle/tortoise to overheat.

I don't believe that turtle shell keratin is breathable or has pores. They certainly WILL NOT suffocate if you put "stuff" on them...you just have to be frugal in your applications of whatever you use. Put it on, then polish most of it off.
 

Edna

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Jacqui said:
dmmj said:
The big question is will they be adopted out, and when can I get some? :)
No no not him! Me me!!!!! :D

Pick me up in Raw-town and I'll share expenses. I adore box turtles, would really like to get some sooner or later:)
 

Tccarolina

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I have more than 15. They ARE a lot of work! I keep an excel logchart to keep track of weights, sickness, or any thing that is of note. I've had plenty of sick ones, especially in their first two years of captivity, and I've learned a lot and also made plenty of mistakes. After the first two years, they seem to adjust pretty well. At least most of them do. I think one of my males, named Eric, still hates me.
I suppose I can understand the desire to hoard them as well. It's the uniqueness of every individual box turtle maybe. I don't know, but I really like them. I keep saying "no more", then I buy another one. Is that "hoarding" behavior? :)
 

Jacqui

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Edna said:
Jacqui said:
dmmj said:
The big question is will they be adopted out, and when can I get some? :)
No no not him! Me me!!!!! :D

Pick me up in Raw-town and I'll share expenses. I adore box turtles, would really like to get some sooner or later:)

:D That would be I think a very fun trip. Yvonne won't let me on her place again tho, she knows she would have to check all my pockets before I left looking for smuggled DTs. :p :D *thinks a minute* You know she would never look too closely at you. Now if I were to hand you a big backpack, do you think once Yvonne's back was turned you could just kinda pick up a couple of moving rocks... :D



supremelysteve said:
I keep saying "no more", then I buy another one. Is that "hoarding" behavior? :)
Nopers. That is a sign of intelligence and great taste. :cool: :D
 

Yvonne G

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So here's a picture of one of the normal colored box turtles and the lighter one. Do you all think they're luteola? And do you think the light one is one of the hyper/hippo/thingamabobbys?
9-26-11rescueb.jpg


9-26-11rescuea.jpg


9-26-11rescuec.jpg
 

Tccarolina

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No, I don't think she's hypomelanistic. I am far from an expert on genetic morphs, so anyone please correct me on any and all points.
Here's what I understand it to be. Hypomelanism is a genetic reduction in the amount of melanin, but not a complete absence. So, say there are 3 genes that are responsible for the black/brown markings, and one of them is missing, causing a defined reduction that carries on to the next generation in a specific way. This is different than an individual that simply has a high amount of light patches, or a highly colored individual.
The light individual you have pictured is similar to a number of wild-caught individuals I've seen for sale on kingsnake. Her legs and head don't appear much different than the darker individual beside her. The lighter shell seems to be within the range that wild individuals have. Also, the dark coloring that follows the seems in the scutes is as dark as the other individual. This would rule out hypomelanism, and make her/him an exceptionally light colored specimen.
But, its also quite likely I do not understand hypomelanism correctly! :)

It would be nice if you could keep all the luteola's together, so they can be bred with good genetic diversity. Someday, when all the loopholes are sewn up with removing wild ones, this might be a really nice large group for a captive breeding project. Well, it's actually a nice one right now!
Steve
 
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Claireabbo

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wow! so cool! :D i wish to have some later in life! :D like rescue them or something :)
 

Yvonne G

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Thanks for that explanation, Steve. (But unless I book mark it and study it, I'll probably not remember it :p ). I DO keep all the different species separately. With the exception of the Floridas. I only have two male bauri's and they are very adept at getting over the separating fence to be with the 3-toed girls.

So you DO think they're luteola?
 

Tccarolina

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Yes, I think they look luteola. I even think the one you think is an ornate female is a luteola. Do you have more pics of them?
 

Yvonne G

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supremelysteve said:
Yes, I think they look luteola. I even think the one you think is an ornate female is a luteola. Do you have more pics of them?

Yeah, I wasn't quite sure about her. Her striations are broken and its hard to count them, but I thought I only counted 6.
 

Tccarolina

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Your pic isn't the clearest, but it looks like there are plenty of lines there. I always thought the lines include those that go forward and up as well. Am I incorrect in thinking this? I've owned ornates in the past, but never deserts.
Here's what I see, give or take a couple. Not totally sure if there is a line or not along the back edge edge of the scute. Not really sure if any of my lines are real, actually!:p
On a different note, they seem to be shaped like hamburger buns!
9-26-11rescues46thru60-2edit.jpg
 

N2TORTS

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Very Nice Y'vonne love the hypo ' type one !

JD~:)
 

Yvonne G

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Well, now with yours and photoshop's help, I can see all the lines too. Guess she'll have to move over a pen! I'll have to take a closer look at the other one I thought was an ornate.
 
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