Hello... I have a turtle (jade) I found her in my back yard, but I'm having a hard time trying to identify what type of turtle she is. I know she's not a box turtle, I'm not sure if she's really a she! 
help....
help....Jade
- Thread starter Kasian Asian
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Hi kasian asian:
Jade is indeed a baby box turtle. Probably under 6 months of age.
Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!!
What would you like us to call you?
Jade is indeed a baby box turtle. Probably under 6 months of age.
Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!!
What would you like us to call you?
Kasian Asian said:Hello... I have a turtle (jade) I found her in my back yard, but I'm having a hard time trying to identify what type of turtle she is. I know she's not a box turtle, I'm not sure if she's really a she!
Yay! Thanx so much... Like I'm a turtle expert. Haha! I don't know whether she's a boy or a girl. She has a soft belly, I'm pretty sure this is due to the fact that she is a baby. When she sleeps she digs her head in the ground. I've fed her worms, she seems to like those, but she doesn't seem to care much for carrots, bananas, or lettuce.
Hello and WELCOME . It's a cutie
. It's a cutie
Thanx everyone! I just love her!
Aww she's adorable! She's way too little for any of us to be sure about the sex, but I've been treating my Domino like a boy even though "he" isn't much bigger than Jade. As for feeding and care, the only thing I know about box turtles is that they like some meat whereas most tortoises are herbivores, so that would explain why she took to the worms and not the veggies. Also, I'd suggest having a vet check her for parasites since you found her in the wild. Besides that, check out the box turtles forum (http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Forum-American-box-turtles#axzz1svBXy2Gk), and someone better versed in them can help you with more specific care. Congrats and welcome to the board!
I found this info on another site. I just googled boy, girl baby box turtles. "If you look at the turtle's shell, the girls would have a rounder shell than the boys. Boys have more of an oval shaped shell. Also if you turn the turtle upside down the boy's shell will cave in the center and the girl's would be smooth. Also the boys tend to have thicker, longer tails while the girls do not. Girl box turtles also tend to have brown eyes. most boys have red eyes." So, I'm pretty confident I have a girl. Yay! 
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Cute baby!!
As far as sexing goes, those traits don't develop until they are MUCH older. A turtle or tortoise can and will look very much "female" until they hit a certain point in their development. I know with Russian tortoises that seems to be about when they reach 4" shell length... Not sure when that point is on boxies, though! Anyway, point is--s/he may LOOK female now, but you aren't going to find out for sure for another couple years or so!
As far as sexing goes, those traits don't develop until they are MUCH older. A turtle or tortoise can and will look very much "female" until they hit a certain point in their development. I know with Russian tortoises that seems to be about when they reach 4" shell length... Not sure when that point is on boxies, though! Anyway, point is--s/he may LOOK female now, but you aren't going to find out for sure for another couple years or so!
What wonderful find! Before you get to attached, please look into alabama laws regarding keeping box turtles. In many states it is illigal to take a box turtle whether adult or hatchling from the wild due to how fragile there populations are. It would be nice if this fellow could live out his days in the wild where he was born. I dont want to seem like a party pooper but we are a community here at tortoiseforum because we love our turtles and tortoises, and nothing excites us more then to see boxies in the wilderness. So i urge you to adopt a boxie in need who cannot be released back in his native habitat and release this beautiful creature so that he may have a chance at a "free" life.
Now i understand you found this in your yard, are you located by a forested area? or in the suburbs? this would help in your desision on whether it would even be safe to release your new found friend.
Now i understand you found this in your yard, are you located by a forested area? or in the suburbs? this would help in your desision on whether it would even be safe to release your new found friend.
Box turtle hatchlings are rarely found in the wild. They hide under leaf litter and eat any small bugs, or worm that they find under there. In the Spring they will eat small green sprouts just coming up, before worms and bugs are available. You can get some tiny pill bugs, or worms for him. He needs to have a soft substrate to dig under and hide, a small water dish to soak and drink from and some plants and leaf litter to mimic a natural environment. I can't stress enough how much he needs humidity. I would mist whatever you keep him in with warm water. Everything should be warm and humid, or moist, but not wet. Hatchlings dehydrate very quickly and die. They are not that easy to care for.
Hello and welcome to the forum..
That info you got about the sexing, is for an adult box turtle not a little baby like you have.
That info you got about the sexing, is for an adult box turtle not a little baby like you have.
Hello and welcome
I agree with the others. You won't know what sex she is until she's much older... 5-10 years!
if her belly is soft then she's probably a hatchling and it should harden up over the next few weeks.
I agree with the others. You won't know what sex she is until she's much older... 5-10 years!
if her belly is soft then she's probably a hatchling and it should harden up over the next few weeks.
A wild hatchling with extra scutes. Very unusual.
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