Need help with EBT in Oklahoma

[andi1013]

Hi! Recently saved an EBT from my dog Ares carrying the turtle around in his mouth. He wasn't trying to chew him, just carrying him around, no cracks or anything in his shell. Well, I brought him in and made him a habitat. Archie is now in a 36" round plastic kiddie pool with a hide, ramp bowl, food bowl, fake plants, coconut fiber bedding, heat and UVB lights, and a warm mist humidifier next to it.

Now to the problem. The first day or two, he was moving around, eating, hanging out in his water bowl, and then he burrowed. He has moved a few times to different locations, but he stays buried. I've never had a turtle before, but my friend who has experience with ornate box turtles (idk if there is a difference) has been helping me. I'm still worried about him and want to make sure he's ok or if I need to do something else.

 

[Tom]

Hi! Recently saved an EBT from my dog Ares carrying the turtle around in his mouth. He wasn't trying to chew him, just carrying him around, no cracks or anything in his shell. Well, I brought him in and made him a habitat. Archie is now in a 36" round plastic kiddie pool with a hide, ramp bowl, food bowl, fake plants, coconut fiber bedding, heat and UVB lights, and a warm mist humidifier next to it.

Now to the problem. The first day or two, he was moving around, eating, hanging out in his water bowl, and then he burrowed. He has moved a few times to different locations, but he stays buried. I've never had a turtle before, but my friend who has experience with ornate box turtles (idk if there is a difference) has been helping me. I'm still worried about him and want to make sure he's ok or if I need to do something else.

They don't like to be out in the open and exposed. You need a large closed chamber to maintain heat and humidity. Try clipping branches from a mulberry tree, grape vines, hibiscus, kudzu, or other safe trees or bushes, and leave those in the enclosure for the turtle to hide under and nibble on. Replace them as needed as they dry out and wilt.

Get rid of the ramped water bowl. Those are fine for snakes and lizards, but hard shelled chelonians flip over and drown in them. Use a large shallow terra cotta plant saucer sunk into the substrate instead.

 

[jeff kushner]

WTTC !

Ares
Andi
What will the Turtle's name be?
Astro? Lol

You got help from your friend and some great advice above but I'm curious, since you didn't mention how large the turtle is can we assume it's older like an adult?

I will pass on a piece if advice I got; "throw a handful of leaves in there so be can hide and he will love you"

Also....room temps ain't gonna cut it. They need 82F or so to digest their food but they need the other side of the house cool.
Congrats and thanks for saving him..

Ever think about letting him go near where Ares found him?

 

[Yvonne G]

I'm glad that you saved the turtle from your dog, but keeping him may have been the wrong thing to do. Most states have very strict rules about native reptiles, and keeping the turtle may have been against the law. Do your research and make sure it's ok to have the turtle. If he doesn't fall under the state's regulations, then try to find the turtle's owner. Someone may be heartbroken at having lost their turtle.