Eastern Box Turtle Pen

[Plato Zorba]

I'm in the midst of my fourth year keeping eastern box turtles and every year the garden has been tweeked to some extent. This year I decided to upgrade the fence entirely. I staggered pressure treated 2×8s that were cut in 3 foot sections and then buried about 6-7" underground. All in all its a completely enclosed garden about 300 square feet including a small bog that is 6' x 4' and varies from 6" to a foot deep. There are also six slate hides and several hollowed logs. We keep 4 females and a single male in the pen. The pics are dated a few months before everything started growing here in central NJ but hopefully you get the idea.

 

[Rover15]

Do you run a pump in your bog?

 

[Len B]

I'm in the midst of my fourth year keeping eastern box turtles and every year the garden has been tweeked to some extent. This year I decided to upgrade the fence entirely. I staggered pressure treated 2×8s that were cut in 3 foot sections and then buried about 6-7" underground. All in all its a completely enclosed garden about 300 square feet including a small bog that is 6' x 4' and varies from 6" to a foot deep. There are also six slate hides and several hollowed logs. We keep 4 females and a single male in the pen. The pics are dated a few months before everything started growing here in central NJ but hopefully you get the idea. View attachment 241131 View attachment 241132 View attachment 241133 View attachment 241134 View attachment 241135

Fantastic Turtle Garden.

 

[Plato Zorba]

Rover15, I do not, no pump just an aerator to provide a little movement and keep it from freezing over the winter. I should of mentioned the bog does have a few frogs, goldfish and some minnows as well but it's full of plants which we've relied on to absorb the nutrients out of the water. A couple times during the summer I flood it out with well water as well. I'll try to post some pics this week so you get a better feel.

 

[Plato Zorba]

This is a few days ago. One of our females passing thru.

 

[Rover15]

Rover15, I do not, no pump just an aerator to provide a little movement and keep it from freezing over the winter. I should of mentioned the bog does have a few frogs, goldfish and some minnows as well but it's full of plants which we've relied on to absorb the nutrients out of the water. A couple times during the summer I flood it out with well water as well. I'll try to post some pics this week so you get a better feel.

It looks great and I wanted to do something like this for my pen, not that size but where I dont need a pump, I dont want to run 100 plus foot of electrical cord.

I believe there are battery powered air supplies. Mind you I'm in the city so I wouldn't get frogs or put fish in, just more plants and an area for them to play in

 

[Plato Zorba]

It looks great and I wanted to do something like this for my pen, not that size but where I dont need a pump, I dont want to run 100 plus foot of electrical cord.

I believe there are battery powered air supplies. Mind you I'm in the city so I wouldn't get frogs or put fish in, just more plants and an area for them to play in

I dug it deep hoping at some point to add a few spotted turtles. It's actually about 2 and a half feet deep but over a foot is a mucky bottom of peat and sand. We tried to go natural without pumps and skimmers and just let the plants filter the water. On top of the frogs and goldfish that overwinter we also get dragonfly larvae as well.

 

[TriciaStringer]

I'm in the midst of my fourth year keeping eastern box turtles and every year the garden has been tweeked to some extent. This year I decided to upgrade the fence entirely. I staggered pressure treated 2×8s that were cut in 3 foot sections and then buried about 6-7" underground. All in all its a completely enclosed garden about 300 square feet including a small bog that is 6' x 4' and varies from 6" to a foot deep. There are also six slate hides and several hollowed logs. We keep 4 females and a single male in the pen. The pics are dated a few months before everything started growing here in central NJ but hopefully you get the idea. View attachment 241131 View attachment 241132 View attachment 241133 View attachment 241134 View attachment 241135

That is gorgeous!

 

[Rover15]

I dug it deep hoping at some point to add a few spotted turtles. It's actually about 2 and a half feet deep but over a foot is a mucky bottom of peat and sand. We tried to go natural without pumps and skimmers and just let the plants filter the water. On top of the frogs and goldfish that overwinter we also get dragonfly larvae as well.

Misquote larvae would be my worry .... minnows could do the trick let the box turtles eat the minnows that eat the larvae

 

[Plato Zorba]

Fantastic Turtle Garden.

Thank you!

 

[Plato Zorba]

Misquote larvae would be my worry .... minnows could do the trick let the box turtles eat the minnows that eat the larvae

I think the aerator provides enough movement to keep the mosquitoes away but without one, I think as you said, the minnows would do the trick.

 

[Plato Zorba]

A couple of pics today showing how much everything has grown in a the past few weeks, including the bog.

 

[orv]

A couple of pics today showing how much everything has grown in a the past few weeks, including the bog. View attachment 241266 View attachment 241267 View attachment 241268 View attachment 241269 View attachment 241270 View attachment 241271

Now I'd enjoy seeing the resident turtles in situ. Could you post some pictures of them enjoying life?

 

[Ghazan]

That's a lot of work to do that staggered vertical fence but it sure came out well...

 

[Millerlite]

The enclosure is growing out nicely! Definently one of the more upper tire enclosures for boxies! The bog looks like its always been there. love it

Kyle

 

[Maro2Bear]

Great looking enclosure - definitely one for other keepers to emulate. It also serves as a great natural green space for water runoff from the downspouts. Nice boggy area...

 

[Plato Zorba]

Here's a few...

 

[EricL]

Just looking at the these recent pics, you would think they were out in the wild. Great enclosure.

 

[NorCal tortoise guy]

beautiful! I really like that fence ides!

 

[MrMarg&me]

Love your enclosure. Very natural. The bog appears to be very clear. Thank you for including pics of the turts enjoying their home.