I will start with I hope I'm in the right spot plz move me to the right spot if I am not ty
I'm going to be buying possibly 2 eastern box turtles in two weeks. the turtles are siblings would it be okay to house them together? they are currently in the same enclosure. their hatch date is sometime in November they are only about 1" right now. will there be any issues as they grow if they are in the same enclosure.
I won't be hibernating them this year as I want them a full year so I can assure they are healthy when it is time to hibernate them.
I have read some care sheets online and the ideal temps are 75f - 85f and humidity 70%-80% is this correct? also I know they like to dig/burrow so my substrate (most likely coco fiber moss mix) will be about 8" thick. I was told that a heat bulb or CHE wouldn't be needed just a uvb light and to use an under the tank heater because it would not only increase the temp but the humidity as well. this was told to be by an other owner of a box turtle in the store not by the employees working there.
the diet I understand is 60% protein (butter worms, small crickets, dew/earth worms) and 40% plant matter (grass, dandelions, carrot greens)
my original plan was to buy a rubber tub (50"long x 20" wide) with a MVB and maybe a 60w CHE(pending on night drop temp with the MVB off) however if it is better to have an under the tank heater then this option would not work, in witch case I would place them in a glass setup.
I do have a 24" long x 12" wide tank that has an under the tank heater on about 1/4 ish 1/3 of the tank that my ball python is using but will switching it to a larger tank next week. would this tank be to small for the two?
I know I've asked a lot normally I research for months before buying a reptile however these eastern box turtles just came in there was only one to start that sold really quickly and he just ordered the last 2 from the breeder. I would like to buy both just need to know if I need to have them in separate setups and a good Idea of what the optimal setup up would be. (I liked the idea of a rubber tub because I can simply move it out side in the summer for natural sunlight)
in advance thank you all for the help. feel free just to redirect me to other care sheets. but i'm hoping for some hands on knowledge XD
I'm going to be buying possibly 2 eastern box turtles in two weeks. the turtles are siblings would it be okay to house them together? they are currently in the same enclosure. their hatch date is sometime in November they are only about 1" right now. will there be any issues as they grow if they are in the same enclosure.
I won't be hibernating them this year as I want them a full year so I can assure they are healthy when it is time to hibernate them.
I have read some care sheets online and the ideal temps are 75f - 85f and humidity 70%-80% is this correct? also I know they like to dig/burrow so my substrate (most likely coco fiber moss mix) will be about 8" thick. I was told that a heat bulb or CHE wouldn't be needed just a uvb light and to use an under the tank heater because it would not only increase the temp but the humidity as well. this was told to be by an other owner of a box turtle in the store not by the employees working there.
the diet I understand is 60% protein (butter worms, small crickets, dew/earth worms) and 40% plant matter (grass, dandelions, carrot greens)
my original plan was to buy a rubber tub (50"long x 20" wide) with a MVB and maybe a 60w CHE(pending on night drop temp with the MVB off) however if it is better to have an under the tank heater then this option would not work, in witch case I would place them in a glass setup.
I do have a 24" long x 12" wide tank that has an under the tank heater on about 1/4 ish 1/3 of the tank that my ball python is using but will switching it to a larger tank next week. would this tank be to small for the two?
I know I've asked a lot normally I research for months before buying a reptile however these eastern box turtles just came in there was only one to start that sold really quickly and he just ordered the last 2 from the breeder. I would like to buy both just need to know if I need to have them in separate setups and a good Idea of what the optimal setup up would be. (I liked the idea of a rubber tub because I can simply move it out side in the summer for natural sunlight)
in advance thank you all for the help. feel free just to redirect me to other care sheets. but i'm hoping for some hands on knowledge XD