Here we are!

[karlyholmes]

I posted first in the box turtle forum but I want to introduce myself and my 6 box turtles (three-toeds I suppose

My name is Karly and Im 25, married with two sons 1 & 3 (Koa & Osiris)

Currently the 6 are outdoors in an enclosure, but we are moving them to a large indoor turtle table that is being built this weekend (YAY!)

These are the 6 taking a warm bath together:

Jump is our favorite (yes i know turtles dont jump but my 3 year old says her name is Jump!) she is really sweet and will just hang out and is down whenever.

This is Brock, he has the nicest red color on his head I just love it!

This is Biggie. She is the largest boxie ive ever seen and if i measured her carapace from head to tail it would be at least 8" maybe 9". I do believe that she is the mother of the 6 eggs I found in the enclosure about 10 days ago that are currently warming in my homeade turtle-bator! Fingers crossed for at least 1???? It was an accidental discovery while moving the dirt in the enclosure so lets hope...

<a href="http://s1151.photobucket.com/albums/o630/Karlyholmes/?action=view&current=DSC_0623.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o630/Karlyholmes/DSC_0623.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Biggie still

Trixie who I found with a missing back foot. Sweet girl.

Oscar with his lovely ivory marked face.

More of Oscar

Baby Houdini... is mean lol.

So anyway thats the 6 pack o' three toeds
Nice to meet you all!

---

Oops I forgot to add the link to the photobucket album so you can see all the photos of them http://s1151.photobucket.com/albums/o630/Karlyholmes/

 

[JoesMum]

Hello and welcome

Out of curiosity, why do you think they'l be better off indoors than out? Most of us think the opposite!

 

[wellington]

Hello and WELCOME I agree, they are better outside whenever possible.

 

[Zamric]

Welcome to the forum!

Beautiful pack-o-torts you got there!

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome.

 

[pam]

Great pictures I love Baby Houdini's face

---

Welcome

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

 

[dmarcus]

Hello Karly and welcome to the forum...

 

[karlyholmes]

Hello and welcome

Out of curiosity, why do you think they'l be better off indoors than out? Most of us think the opposite!

This is why, the dirt here is smells absolutely HORRID and it makes a clay mud when the turtles get the moisture they need and I have to wash thick mud off to pick them up. I would have to come up with enough purchased soil and substrate to fill a very large area and to get it down deep enough that the arkansas red clay soil wouldnt cause a mud bath.

In about a month, we will start experiencing 120+ degree weather from the first week of july to the end of august. I have plenty of hides outdoors but I fear that it will become too hot and they cant "get away" from the heat even in a hide. Keeping the substrate moist will be a very difficult task once the temperatures hit the peaks and we get out of the spring showers.

I want to be able to keep them cleaner, have more access to handling them without having to wash them excessively, and be better able to monitor their humidity and temperature levels. For now, until I can afford to excavate and fill a larger portion of my yard, indoors is the best for our situation

 

[Jacob]

Welcome to the forum..

 

[TORTOISEMAN1]

Welcome to the forum! I thought they love mud?

 

[karlyholmes]

Welcome to the forum! I thought they love mud?

Maybe so, but i do not like the way it makes them smell- even after i rinse them off, it smells like moldy Sh*t! They are loving this new enclosure- the other one was too small and I cant devote enough of my income and enough of my yard to make a decent outdoor enclosure. I am aware that they like outdoors but it doesnt work for us. Not to mention that we plan to sell our house within 2 years and taking a huge enclosure down would be a pain.

Ive been seeing people making an enclosure out of a kiddie pool for petes sake, that is the most inhumane home i think you could make a turtle/tortoise. The important thing is that all of my turtles are happy, healthy, eat well and have personal space in a healthy environment with all of the necessary environmental elements.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Karly:

Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!!

Hopefully your new house will have better dirt for an outside habitat.

May we know appx. where in the world you are?

 

[Jacqui]

Hmmm some interesting thoughts. Welcome to the forum.