Very long time coming!

[Charis]

Well, it's taken a few years but it looks like I'll finally be getting a turtle(s)! Adopting the desert tortoise didn't work out, had too hard a time figuring out all of the legalities of adopting him. :-(
But I've been in touch with a rescue in state and they just got in a good looking pair of Boxies and I'm in the process of adopting them.
I'm sorry if this has already been asked but I had a couple questions and this forum's layout is different than what I'm used to and I'm having some trouble navigating it. I was just thinking of all the different protein sources that I could easily get to feed them and wondered if they ever ate fish? If that is recommended or not? I was thinking of whole silversides, they sell them frozen at the pet stores, they are a whole prey item and on the list of "safe" fish to feed other reptiles. And does anyone ever feed small rodents to their Boxies? Yay or nay on that? I keep snakes and always have humanely killed pinky mice in my freezer for them, so offering that as a treat every now and then would be very easy.

 

[ascott]

I am giving your thread a bump back to the front of the line....ready? BUMPPPPPP

 

[Charis]

These are some not great pictures of them. Looks like I might be able to get them this Sun or Mon!
The male.

Really not a good one of the female.

Both together,

 

[Jodie]

I can't hello with your questions, but wanted to say congrats!

 

[leigti]

If you're using the app go to browse then species specific then turtles then American Boxturtle. I think the website is pretty much same. I have read that they like pinky mice and fish, I have fed mine sardines. There is a lot of information in the box turtle section. Congratulations.

 

[TigsMom]

I have never heard of feeding boxies pinkies. I stick with worms, pill bugs, crickets and used to offer them snails when we lived in California (here in Arizona there are no snails).

 

[leigti]

I have never heard of feeding boxies pinkies. I stick with worms, pill bugs, crickets and used to offer them snails when we lived in California (here in Arizona there are no snails).

I haven't done it but it has been mentioned to me in a couple threads.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Yes to pinkies and fish. I seem to recall that fish that has not been frozen is a better bet than frozen fish. In the wild they eat carrion, and they probably find nests of field mice. The bones are good source of calcium. They'd probably eat fuzzies, too.

They'll eat live fish if you put a minnow or guppy in their water dish.

You'd be surprised at how much of what you eat they will enjoy. Squash, pumpkin, overcooked chicken from soup, soup carrots, fish, veggies, fruits. One of mine likes moths & cicada shells, they all like slugs...

 

[Charis]

Just got them tonight. They are super friendly! I'll have to get some good pictures of them tomorrow. The male has really neat markings on his face. He also had some pretty ugly damage to a section of his shell, that I'd been told about, but it looks really well healed. They were an owner surrender to an animal shelter who then sent them on to the rescue I got them from, so there isn't much background info on them. Not sure how old they are but they are on the smaller side and don't look totally full grown.

 

[Charis]

And the pictures as promised. This is the female, peeking out to watch everything going on as I got them ready for a brief soak this morning.

The male after his soak.

The old injury to the male's shell.

The female after her soak.

 

[lismar79]

So pretty!

 

[Charis]

The male outside in natural light.

 

[johnsonnboswell]

They're beautiful! Her beak is in need of a serious trim.

 

[Charis]

Another one of the damaged area of the male's shell.

The female in natural light. She did't want to hold still at all.

 

[Charis]

They're beautiful! Her beak is in need of a serious trim.

Thought it looked a bit overgrown. What is the best way to go about trimming a beak?

 

[leigti]

Thought it looked a bit overgrown. What is the best way to go about trimming a beak?

I used a fingernail file on my box turtle, the paper kind not the metal kind. I did it over a three day period. It might need to be done a little more but for now it's okay. And then I feed her on a terra-cotta saucer I have heard you could also use fingernail clippers. They are both very cute. Congratulations

 

[littleginsu]

I can't get Flash to hold still for filing, so I have a cuticle trimmer that I am able to maneuver and trim her beak.

 

[Charis]

Actually, I decided that wasn't something I'm completely comfortable attempting myself, so I called my vet yesterday and they do beak trimming for a very reasonable price. So she has an appointment on Thurs to get it trimmed.

 

[Charis]

They both got a couple of hours out in the yard and sun today. The male trekked all over and was interested in exploring, the female pretty much stayed in one spot and was more wary, though she did look around a good bit.

Female, with my phone by her for size comparison.

 

[Charis]

The male next to my phone.