Someone had asked me, if you keep a group of Boxes, would they kill hatchlings. It made me wonder. I have kept Boxes in large enclosures and occasionally found hatchlings, but it made me wonder if there had been more hatchlings that were killed.
Do Box Turtles kill hatchlings
- Thread starter jskahn
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Yes! The adults often see them as food (as they are fast and small - they think they're bugs.) Unfortunately, I have found dead hatchlings (when I miss a nest and they hatch in the ground) from time to time. I usually find their little bodies though. It seems the adults bite them, then realize they aren't food and leave it. 
Not the reply I was hoping for, but it is a good warning. With Greek and Marginated tortoises, I never found any dead hatchlings, but they are vegetarians.
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- Nov 17, 2012
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Sure do unfortunately
i don't think it matters if the are vegetarian's even torts have been known to snag down a "bug" which they could miss see a hatchling for
Yes, and hatchlings kill hatchlings. If you keep hatchlings together chances are good you will end up with missing legs or bites taken out of the edge of shells. I speak from personal experience.
So, if I'm potentially keeping 4 boxie babies separate, and outdoors, any good ideas on lil water dishes?
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- Aug 27, 2012
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Ceramic plant saucers jar lids, Tupperware tops
Because they're so darned small, a small plant saucer works pretty good, but you may have to add a layer of pebbles to make it even more shallow.
Again. New information to me. Great place to learn! ! ! Thanks! !
