File :-(, x, )
Turtle Trouble Anonymous
Okay so I have 8 aquatic turtles and since last Friday I got two box turtles (one a common eastern and the other an ornate turtle). Thing is, I haven't really gotten them to eat much yet, I've been giving them fresh vegetables (not lettuce) and they've just kinda looked at it. They're not dead and it's almost been a week, do turtles not eat that much or something?


tl;dr how the fuck do i make 6 year old box turtles that don't eat, eat
>> Anonymous
they eat when youre not watching
>> Anonymous
Those things love frozen veggies for reasons I do not understand.
>> Anonymous
well they're definately not eating, or atleast that much while im gone, im finding alot of once fresh vegetables dried up n shit. one of the turtles is pretty active, the other just sits there all day, they were both really active at first so i'm thinking theyre not eating for a reason
>> Anonymous
Reptiles can go for long periods of time without eating and it won't kill them. Not healthy, but they'll be fine.

Try offering them a different variety of foods, and try giving them live shit. I know my box turtle would happily munch on crickets (but be sure you buy them from a bait shop or something).
>> Anonymous
Try strips of beef heart, I had box turtles when I was a kid and they loved that shit. And if you feed them lettuce, make sure it's a good kind like romaine, not that iceberg shit.
>> Anonymous
Well. First off. Where did you get them?

The ornate is endangered and illegal to own unless you have a special permit. I think the eastern is ok but I can't say for sure without knowing where your at.

Luckily reptiles have slower metabolisms and can go extended periods without food. Giving you more time to save them. If you caught them. Let them go where you found them. Not just anywhere. If they were given to you, find out where they got them and for how long.

Also find out how they got them to eat.
>> Anonymous
box turtles are much more fruit, bugs, and earthworm eaters. Give them a blackberry or strawberry with an earthworm. A healtht box turtle can't resist an earthworm. The bait/guns area of walmart has them cheap, or any local bait shop.
That should make up most of the diet IMO, some crickets every so often with some fruit and a veggie every so often.
>> Anonymous
>>294896
They are on a hunger strike to show support for Tibet during the Olympics. Those turtles have a consience.
>> Anonymous
>>294955
Or are stupid hippies that support theocracies.
>> Anonymous
>>294958
Hey take that up with the turtles, not me.
>> Anonymous
lol hahaha thanks, i've implemented many of these ideas into my shoppinglist for this week. and I don't know whether or not theyre illegal or not where I live which is Mass, but I got them from some pre-school teacher from craigstlist for 20 bucks. she tried givin me her 10 lb sulcatta for 50 bucks but i was strapped for cash at the time.
>> Anonymous
>>294913

Ornate's not endangered. Just protected. There are loopholes, such as someone catching them with a valid hunting license and gifting them to someone else. Selling them is illegal in all cases, I think.
>> Anonymous
>>295095
In some states it is.

besides that I dont think that you have an ornate box turtle. I beleive you have a florida box. the florida has a rounded shell and a yellow strip on the side of the neck. which we can't see in your photo.

so its fine in your state. HOWEVER. The eastern box turtle is protected in your state.
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp_temp/conservation/herps/turtle_tips.htm

4) What should I do if I already have a protected species of turtle that came from the wild?
Do not release it into the wild if it has been kept with any other turtles or if it has been in captivity for a long period of time! It could transmit a disease to other wild turtles. In these cases contact the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program. Otherwise, individuals returned to the wild should be set free at the same location where they were found. That's where they know where to find food, shelter, and mates.


and on
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/regulations/plain_language/hunting_herps.htm
1. Closed Season: There is a closed season on the hunting, fishing, taking and possession of the following reptiles and amphibians: Blanding's Turtle, Blue-spotted Salamander, Bog Turtle, Copperhead, Diamondback Terrapin, Eastern Box Turtle, Eastern Hognosed Snake, Eastern Ratsnake, Eastern Spadefoot, Eastern Wormsnake, Four-toed Salamander, Green Seaturtle, Hawksbill Seaturtle, Jefferson Salamander, Kemps' Ridley Seaturtle, Leatherback Seaturtle, Loggerhead Seaturtle, Marbled Salamander, Northern Leopard Frog, Northern Red-bellied Cooter, Spotted Salamander, Spotted Turtle, Spring Salamander, Timber Rattlesnake, and Wood Turtle.


Closed season means you cannot hunt/take them in that state. However, as a future CO, I'll tell you that unless you go about waving them in the public its unforcable. And since you didnt catch it but ordered it online you would just be made to buy a permit.
>> Anonymous
if you had gotten them from the wild I could understand that, but most turtles don't eat every day, you should try feeding them cantaloupe or many night crawlers
>> Anonymous
boxies need protein as well as a variety of fruits and veggies. Earthworms are often very enticing to box turtles, or brightly colored veggies like bell peppers, squash, etc.
>> Anonymous
The Eastern box I got is fairly common in stores. I think taking them from nature is illegal, but there seems to be an established CB market here.

I actually met up with the pre-school teacher in person to get the turtles. The pic I posted isn't of my turtle, I was just lazy and googled ornate box turtle. Mine has red/orange eyes and a yellowish/green skin. It's really unique and I can see why it may be endangered. The pre-school teacher that sold it to me told me about a store in Boston that sells baby turtles for educational purposes, thus how she got them. Perhaps there's more loopholes we're not aware of considering her status as a teacher.

Since they've been raised around kids they're actually quite friendly. So them not eating is just worrying me alittle. I've bought them food (Cantalope, and some bell peppers) at a market near my office, so when I get home they should be pretty happy.Also am prob gunna get some crickets and nightcrawlers if possible, see what works and what doesnt.
>> Anonymous
>>295472
Then you do have an ornate. Teachers can have turtles for educational reasons but having a permit is still required. Store bought animals are alittle different and the store seller should have informed her if she needed special permits IF he was selling them legally. Which unfortuanatly isnt always the case.

Somthing else that hasnt been said yet is that they could just be stressed out from the move. Thats a possibility. I'd give them over a week from the day you got them and if they havent eaten at all after then i'd try looking up a vet.