oldocb
New Member
I have a large outdoor habitat containing sixty-three box turtles. All are three-toed box turtles with the exception of one wild-caught ornate box turtle. The area is approximately 10,000 square feet, part wooded and the remainder bermuda grass and ornamental grasses. There is a pond in the center of the grassy area with a filter and fountain. I installed a winding path to walk on composed of crushed granite. The turtles have been in the area for about six weeks and I am finding many have developed shallow to deep abrasions on the plastron, usually in the hinge region.
I am presuming the injuries are being caused by the trauma of crawling across the path. None of the turtles have anything resembling tooth penetrations, and the abrasions are almost always on the region of the plastron that is in closest contact with the ground.
The injured box turtles have been removed from the area and are being cared for indoors. We are removing all of the granite. I'm not not sure what to replace this with. I need to have a place to walk in order to monitor and care for my box turtles but not at their expense. I am considering large pieces of flagstone with some type of groundcover, but I'm fishing for suggestions. They were relocated from a much smaller 1200 sq ft backyard habitat that contained stepping stones but not rocks or gravel.
I am presuming the injuries are being caused by the trauma of crawling across the path. None of the turtles have anything resembling tooth penetrations, and the abrasions are almost always on the region of the plastron that is in closest contact with the ground.
The injured box turtles have been removed from the area and are being cared for indoors. We are removing all of the granite. I'm not not sure what to replace this with. I need to have a place to walk in order to monitor and care for my box turtles but not at their expense. I am considering large pieces of flagstone with some type of groundcover, but I'm fishing for suggestions. They were relocated from a much smaller 1200 sq ft backyard habitat that contained stepping stones but not rocks or gravel.