File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
I got a female Eastern Box Turtle and she wont eat.
I've tried everything.
The only thing she has eaten, is crickets.
SHE NEEDS TO EAT HER VEGGIES.
Any advice?
>> Anonymous
Do you keep her in a box? as the name suggests, box turtles should be kept in boxes. otherwise they will get sick, refuse food and eventually die.
>> Anonymous
Tried cherry tomatoes. All I was ever get my Eastern Box Turtle I caught in the wild to eat was cherry tomatoes. Technically tomatoes aren't veggies though >_> They're fruit.
>> Anonymous
>>94110
How long did you keep your wild caught turtle?
>> Anonymous
Mealworms, superworms, waxworms, nightcrawlers, redworms, raw hamburger meat, cooked turkey or chicken, pinkie mice.

^Bulk of the diet of my breeding box turtles.
Though, if she's an Eastern Box Turtle, which is a protected species in over 90% of their natural habitat, you prolly' shouldn't have her to begin with...
>> Anonymous
Maybe you could put some powdered vitamins that they sell for turtles/reptiles on the crickets?
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
They aren't veggies, but have you tried strawberries? I've never met a box turtle who didn't like strawberries. :D
>> Anonymous
Most turtles prefer to eat meat until they get older; Box turtles especially. It's nothing to worry about, just keep offering it and eventually it will be taken.
>> Anonymous
>>94378
I know I should not have her.
A friend of mine got her from a rescue place, and gave it to me knowing I would care for her.
>> Anonymous
How do I catch earth worms?
>> Anonymous
>>94437
that's a 'nigga plz' face if i've ever seen one
>> Anonymous
>>94840

With a shovel.
It's easier to buy them though. You can get them from places that sell fish bait, and from some garden stores.
>> Anonymous
>>94840
if you go to any hunting/fishing supply store you should be able to pick up an earthworm trap. basically it's like a lobster trap that you plant in the ground with the included bait. The worms go in but can't get back out.
>> Anonymous
I've had several turtles throughout my life, some of which were 2 Western Box Turtles and an Easern Box Turtle.
They all, at one point or another, had gotten sick at least once, and wouldn't eat. I had to force-feed them, which is fairly easy to do if you have the patience.
Hold the turtle so it can't just walk away. First, try waving some strawberry or banana in front of its nose, to see it it become interested (banana was always my box turtles' favorite!). If not, try this: If you stroke the beak, and/or gently push on the corners of its mouth, it should eventually open its mouth. Turtles get a little fussy when you mess with their beaks and will open up, threatening to bite. If you do it quickly, gently put small bites of soft food into their mouth. :3 Check their mouth next time they open it to make sure there's no food still inside, and be careful not to shove it down their throat! This procedure can also be used to give it water if its not drinking, using an eyedropper. Good luck!
>> Anonymous
wal-mart sells nightcrawler worms

turtles love those
>> Anonymous
>>94459

The only thing about box turtles is that they're... Difficult. Like I said, my breeders eat lots of animal matter (LOVE pinky mice), but I can only get them to eat blueberries, strawberries, and tomatoes in the non-animal matter category.

Only try and force-feed her if she's losing a lot of weight. It's somewhat stressful on them.

Box turtles eat more animal matter than most people realize. Invest in some vitamin powder if you're seriously concerned, and dust the crickets reguarly.