Hi all, I'm looking for advice.
I caved and bought this older box turtle from a pet store. I've been looking for eastern box turtles or ornate box turtles for a while, but not many breeders in Canada. I've owned box turtles in the past (over 5 years ago) so I know what he requires and needs for care, but this guy needs some extra TLC.
the store said he was brought in from a long time customer and said he is roughly 15 years old. his shell is in rough shape (1st 3 pictures are the ones the store posted), but he is very active watched him for about an hour in the store, and since he has been home he has been on the move.
the 4th and 5th pictures are ones I took in the store of the setup he is housed in and just of him.
my questions for everyone, what can I do to better his shell at this point?
can I completely redo his enclosure without causing stress?
lastly, I'm posting a picture of his nails I've never seen nails this bad before I would really like advice on what to do, in the past I just made sure there were lots of different places for my box turtles burrow in and rocks for climbing so I'm not sure what to do once they are this bad, I assume trim them but once he is picked up he tucks his feet right away.
any and all help appreciated thanks in advance
I caved and bought this older box turtle from a pet store. I've been looking for eastern box turtles or ornate box turtles for a while, but not many breeders in Canada. I've owned box turtles in the past (over 5 years ago) so I know what he requires and needs for care, but this guy needs some extra TLC.
the store said he was brought in from a long time customer and said he is roughly 15 years old. his shell is in rough shape (1st 3 pictures are the ones the store posted), but he is very active watched him for about an hour in the store, and since he has been home he has been on the move.
the 4th and 5th pictures are ones I took in the store of the setup he is housed in and just of him.
my questions for everyone, what can I do to better his shell at this point?
can I completely redo his enclosure without causing stress?
lastly, I'm posting a picture of his nails I've never seen nails this bad before I would really like advice on what to do, in the past I just made sure there were lots of different places for my box turtles burrow in and rocks for climbing so I'm not sure what to do once they are this bad, I assume trim them but once he is picked up he tucks his feet right away.
any and all help appreciated thanks in advance