Hello0123
New Member
Hi,
I'm new to this forum and would be grateful for any advice for caring for two new sick box turtles. I grew up in Louisiana, and my dad and I had pet box turtles (never babies) that we found in traffic when I was a kid. They were kept in an outdoor pen in the summer, and in an indoor enclosure in the winter and we never had any significant health problems with them.
Last week, I ordered my dad two "well-started" 6 month old three-toed box turtles from tortoise town. We received them on Tuesday, and my dad noticed that one of the turtles was much smaller, its shell much thinner, more lethargic and his eyes only opened when you placed him in the water dish. Both ate a meal worm that first day. The other turtle is alert, active, and has no discernible eye issues, but has not eaten since Tuesday. The sickly one has continued to go downhill. Its arms and legs literally flop when you place him in the food dish, though he does perk up a little when placed in the water.
The setup: (indoors) low plastic tub with substrate, zoo-med cypress mulch (misted daily to ensure that it is damp) topped with moss (also misted), two shallow water dishes, food dish with a few leafy greens, worms, and the wet pellet food for turtles. There is a broad spectrum light on one end of the enclosure during the day, and a "red" heat lamp on the same side at night. Temperatures on the in the enclosure range from 83-90 degrees.
We soak the turtles twice a day, and have placed them on the food dish with the live meal worms before and after soaking. I bought the calcium powder, but wanted to wait to dust the food until after they were eating regularly.
Can anything be done for the sick turtle? Do you have any tips on how to get the active one to eat?
Thanks again for your help!
I'm new to this forum and would be grateful for any advice for caring for two new sick box turtles. I grew up in Louisiana, and my dad and I had pet box turtles (never babies) that we found in traffic when I was a kid. They were kept in an outdoor pen in the summer, and in an indoor enclosure in the winter and we never had any significant health problems with them.
Last week, I ordered my dad two "well-started" 6 month old three-toed box turtles from tortoise town. We received them on Tuesday, and my dad noticed that one of the turtles was much smaller, its shell much thinner, more lethargic and his eyes only opened when you placed him in the water dish. Both ate a meal worm that first day. The other turtle is alert, active, and has no discernible eye issues, but has not eaten since Tuesday. The sickly one has continued to go downhill. Its arms and legs literally flop when you place him in the food dish, though he does perk up a little when placed in the water.
The setup: (indoors) low plastic tub with substrate, zoo-med cypress mulch (misted daily to ensure that it is damp) topped with moss (also misted), two shallow water dishes, food dish with a few leafy greens, worms, and the wet pellet food for turtles. There is a broad spectrum light on one end of the enclosure during the day, and a "red" heat lamp on the same side at night. Temperatures on the in the enclosure range from 83-90 degrees.
We soak the turtles twice a day, and have placed them on the food dish with the live meal worms before and after soaking. I bought the calcium powder, but wanted to wait to dust the food until after they were eating regularly.
Can anything be done for the sick turtle? Do you have any tips on how to get the active one to eat?
Thanks again for your help!
