One thing to consider is separate enclosures. No reason they should live together.
Three-toeds can be quite colorful on the skin...the carapace is more "plain". The ones with the feathered pattern on the carapace may have some intergrade DNA. If they were from crossed parents, or were collected from somewhere where 3Ts and EBTs overlap their ranges.Three-toed huh. That makes a lot of sense. The hybrid idea makes sense to. Red who just got his name within the hour reminds me of a cherry head red-footed. Of course this is just a comparison I don't think there's any tortoise in these turtles. The other one with red didn't get nearly as much. It's a starting place ill look up both with a focus on the three toe as that seems to dominate. Assuming three toed are typically lighter in color.
Just some thoughts that I've put together today having more time to observe then put everything together and change things out all that nonsense.Three-toeds can be quite colorful on the skin...the carapace is more "plain". The ones with the feathered pattern on the carapace may have some intergrade DNA. If they were from crossed parents, or were collected from somewhere where 3Ts and EBTs overlap their ranges.
Figure 8. Range map of box turtle distribution in the United Stated....
Download scientific diagram | Range map of box turtle distribution in the United Stated. The Eastern Box Turtle is colored in brown. Other subspecies include the Three-toed Box Turtle (T.c. triunguis, in green) Florida Box Turtle (T.c. bauri, in yellow), and the Gulf Coast Box Turtle (T.c...www.researchgate.net
I’m no expert but have learned a ton from this group. My first thought is that since you’re learning so much through this experience, you can pick two to keep in your expanded enclosures and find homes for the other 3, with the requirement that they build or purchase a proper enclosure before you pass them turtle on to them. You can share the care sheet and help teach the new prospective caregivers what they need to know. That takes some of the burden off of you - 5 turtle will require A LOT of space. I only have one Russian tortoise and he needs more space than I would’ve guessed. Best of luck. You got this.It's all good I was just feeling ganged up on. After all I've only had these turtles one full day now and I didn't even know I was getting them until I got them. I am the type that will stand up for myself sometimes it all cost. I do think a bigger tank is important but if I can't address that right now I can at least do my best to address everything else. Like getting them stupid heat rocks out of there before 1 malfunctions. Or getting a proper UVB bulb now that I have watched videos I think these Turtles are much too pale and that's just a heat lamp and not UVB. I probably will still try to get permission for a second turtle aquarium as I seem to have at least one dominant male. It's possible that a second male made a move while I was watching but it's not as persistent as Red he has picked himself out a favorite and is not giving her much rest.
Pyramiding still exists mostly because the owner doesn’t know how to accurately provide their tortoise with the right enclosure and fit their specific need. Hence why they come here and ask questions to learn how to provide a better life for their pet.Okay well I've got too much to do to get stuck on this size issue. If you all incest in staying on this treadmill that's not going anywhere talking about size and neglecting everything else well find you stay here and do that I'm going to go figure out the rest of what I need to know. You stay here and enjoy your iron roll I'm going to go figure out the best overall care that I can provide these creatures deserve nothing less than that. I can't believe you people are so arrogant to think that you are the only ones that know how to take care of turtles and tortoises properly you've got it all figured out but yet things like pyramiding still exist.
Lol, You came here asking for advice then when advice is given you disregard it and argue with people. And we're the ones that are arrogant? What was the point of this post if your not going to listen to anyone and already know best?Okay well I've got too much to do to get stuck on this size issue. If you all incest in staying on this treadmill that's not going anywhere talking about size and neglecting everything else well find you stay here and do that I'm going to go figure out the rest of what I need to know. You stay here and enjoy your iron roll I'm going to go figure out the best overall care that I can provide these creatures deserve nothing less than that. I can't believe you people are so arrogant to think that you are the only ones that know how to take care of turtles and tortoises properly you've got it all figured out but yet things like pyramiding still exist.
I agree, it can be upsetting to hear what you’re doing isn’t what’s best, but it is a great feeling when you fix the situation and give your animal a proper way to live! And can see them benefiting.Lol, You came here asking for advice then when advice is given you disregard it and argue with people. And we're the ones that are arrogant? What was the point of this post if your not going to listen to anyone and already know best?
"I'm going to go figure out the best overall care that I can provide these creatures deserve nothing less than that."
But..... Your not doing that?
Well think about it this way put your animals on an acre two acres hundred acres of land whatever you want. But you have to take away food water and Heat. See how long your your animals last it may take him 6 months to starve to death Bur they will die a cruel death and quickly. I'm not saying I'm not going to give them more space I'm saying I'm not going to give them my 50 by 50 foot square that is ridiculous and nobody else but this forum seems to think that they need such a massive guard and certainly not immediately as if there going to die in a week if they don't get a 50 x 50 foot space. I will say it one more time other things are as important if not MORE IMPORTANT then enough space. Your skulls are thicker than your pet shells. My god get past the conditions thay came in I will do things to compensate as I improve their lives but I can't do them sitting on a forum arguing with you. I do not have to and will not limit my education to this one forum. And when the rest of the internet does not say I need a 50 by 50 foot square to keep 5 Turtles I will not give it to them just because one forum thinks they do.Lol, You came here asking for advice then when advice is given you disregard it and argue with people. And we're the ones that are arrogant? What was the point of this post if your not going to listen to anyone and already know best?
"I'm going to go figure out the best overall care that I can provide these creatures deserve nothing less than that."
But..... Your not doing that?
Thank You Jeff,Naw, not ganged up on at all ...although from your perspective, I can see how it would feel that way. Please don't get jaded, there's some super talent here and I wouldn't say that if it weren't true. I rarely sugarcoat things and you simply won't find another source with the pro-level talent, period. I've read the entire internet so I can save you time...lol
You're doing fine......I've told people my whole life that size matters....and I finally come to a place where they agree yet I do not always agree with them!. That's okay too.....
I kept water turtles in 55 gallon tanks for 40 years....tanks did great for them but the ring of fencing around the Boysenberry tree, w/ a small pond in the middle always worked as a kid, until a racoon or fox came around. I wasn't ready to have my box turtle predated so I just put my little Matilda in an outdoor(see other thread) home I built from my leftover deck boards from last summer. After a year of watching her grow, I miss her being there in the mornings, but I feel that she is better off outside.
Good luck my friend....relax, you are among friends here....
jeff
BTW- you can do everything super cheap.....if you browse around here, you'll see some awfully cheap solutions to things. Not everyone here has disposable income yet they provide fantastic homes!
It seems like it got a little heated here... but i'd like to let you know that everyone on the forum (at least most of us) just want to help you give your turtle the best care possible, which is reason we are pushing this so much. A lot of us on the forum started off taking care of our torts/turtles in all the wrong ways. Now, we don't want others to make the same mistakes. We don't think we are the only ones that know how to take care of turtles and tortoises- actually most of us know the stuff we know because of others' expierience and help from a lot of different sources, ones on the forum and ones not. If you ask for advice, we'll give you the best we can offer. I hope you won't take that statement for granted. We didn't zoom in on the size problem entirely and neglect everything else, we just want to help you see its importance. We gave advice on the lighting, food, substrate, and more and explained those things importance to your turtles' well being, just like how we are trying to explain enclosure size's importance. Basically, please don't scorn us for trying to push this. If we didn't care about your turtle, we wouldn't help in the first place. Please focus on what you can do now, which would be the extra enclosure, separating the females and males, and I would like to put a lot of emphasis on substrate. Others on this thread have already explained why it should be focused on. Even if you have to keep them in the tanks for now, consider moving them into a bigger enclosure, outdoor if possible, when you have the time and space. You don't need to go overboard, we would just like to emphasize how important a proper amount of space is for excersize, limiting agression, and for your torts comfort. As a side note-Okay well I've got too much to do to get stuck on this size issue. If you all incest in staying on this treadmill that's not going anywhere talking about size and neglecting everything else well find you stay here and do that I'm going to go figure out the rest of what I need to know. You stay here and enjoy your iron roll I'm going to go figure out the best overall care that I can provide these creatures deserve nothing less than that. I can't believe you people are so arrogant to think that you are the only ones that know how to take care of turtles and tortoises properly you've got it all figured out but yet things like pyramiding still exist.
It seems you think we care about food, water, and heat less than we do space. I would like to tell you that you are wrong. Food, water, heat, substrate, and space are all equally important to a tort or turtle's comfort and health. That doesn't mean each and every one of those things will be able to be provided in the best ways possible, and sometimes they can be rather lacking. But, that doesn't mean the tort/turtle can't live a healthy, happy life in those conditions either. There are times when you should focus on certain things over others; in this case I would focus on getting some substrate, and working out that space situation, which you are already getting at. (As it seems you are figuring out the other stuff quite well). What i'm trying to get at here is: I urge you to try your hardest to provide your turtle with as many of those things as possible. If you have a chance to make something better, take it. If not, you can wait until you do.Well think about it this way put your animals on an acre two acres hundred acres of land whatever you want. But you have to take away food water and Heat.
I'm confused, I've read this entire thread and I don't see anybody saying you need a 50x50 enclosure? I also don't see anybody saying your Torts would die in a week without that?Well think about it this way put your animals on an acre two acres hundred acres of land whatever you want. But you have to take away food water and Heat. See how long your your animals last it may take him 6 months to starve to death Bur they will die a cruel death and quickly. I'm not saying I'm not going to give them more space I'm saying I'm not going to give them my 50 by 50 foot square that is ridiculous and nobody else but this forum seems to think that they need such a massive guard and certainly not immediately as if there going to die in a week if they don't get a 50 x 50 foot space. I will say it one more time other things are as important if not MORE IMPORTANT then enough space. Your skulls are thicker than your pet shells. My god get past the conditions thay came in I will do things to compensate as I improve their lives but I can't do them sitting on a forum arguing with you. I do not have to and will not limit my education to this one forum. And when the rest of the internet does not say I need a 50 by 50 foot square to keep 5 Turtles I will not give it to them just because one forum thinks they do.