Excellent lifelong pets are the Eastern box turtles, which are small and beautifully colored.Taking proper care of your new turtle is crucial in giving it a long and happy life, as some Eastern box turtles may have a difficult time adjusting to a new home.Make sure you keep the turtle well-fed and healthy by setting up a comfortable enclosure.
Step 1: There is a turtle shelter or seller.
Turtles taken from the wild, or ones purchased from an unreputable pet store, might be underfed, ill or not adjusted to captivity.You can purchase an Eastern box turtle from a well-reviewed turtle seller online.Taking a turtle from the wild may be against the law.If you buy a turtle from a legit seller, it will be legal and likely much healthier than one taken from the wild.If you can't find an Eastern box turtle seller nearby, you could look for a different species in your area.
Step 2: The turtle should be checked for signs of illness or injury.
Pick it up if you like the look of it.It should feel heavy as you hold it and be free of any injuries.Make sure its eyes are clear and bright.The turtle won't live for very long if you see signs of illness or sickness.It's better to choose a turtle that is healthy so that you can care for them for a long time.It's possible that the pet store or seller isn't taking good care of their turtles if you check many of them.Look for a seller that takes care of their turtles.
Step 3: Ask if the turtle can be fed.
Before buying a turtle, you should ask the seller if you can give it some lettuce or insects.It may be a sign that the turtle has not been fed properly or will not accept food in captivity if they don't let you.Before you take your turtle home, make sure it eats.If you can't feed your turtle at the pet store, it will starve once you take it home.
Step 4: If you live in a warm place, choose an outdoor enclosure.
The best way to mirror your turtle's natural habitat is through an outdoor enclosure.If you live in a place that has a large yard that's regularly above 60 F (16C), you should enclose a 4 by 4 ft (120 by 120 cm) area with a fence that is at least 30 cm high.Cinder blocks or bricks can be used to make a small enclosure if you don't want to build a fence.Keep the turtle inside by stacking them around the perimeter of your space.If you want your turtle to stay in its enclosure, you may need to bury some bricks underneath the fence.Before covering the bricks with dirt, dig a trench around the perimeter that can be filled with a single layer of bricks.Dogs, cats, or other wild animals can get in and hurt your turtle if your enclosure is covered with wire mesh.
Step 5: For better temperature regulation, go with an indoor enclosure.
You can set up an enclosure indoors if you don't have a lot of space outdoors.Purchase a large plastic container or a glass tank and keep it in your home.To prevent the turtle from seeing out, cover the sides of the glass tank with paper or something similar.Your turtle won't understand that the glass is keeping it in and will frequently try to escape, causing it stress.You don't need a lid to keep the turtle inside the tank or container, it should have high walls.Your turtle will be safe if the walls of the enclosure are at least 30 cm high.To keep your turtle happy, your tank should be at least 36 by 12 inches.
Step 6: Warm half of the enclosure with heat lamps or natural sunlight.
Turtles need to spend time basking in warm light in order to regulate their body temperature.Place a heat lamp over one end of your indoor enclosure, or use the natural sunlight in an outdoor enclosure to keep one side of the tank around 80 F.The sunlight should be enough to keep your turtle warm if it's warm enough.
Step 7: Put shade on the other half of the enclosure.
If you want to prevent your turtle from overheating, you should give them a section away from direct heat.If you want to protect your outdoor enclosure from the sun, you can plant some small trees or plants over one half of the enclosure.The cooler section of the enclosure should be warm.Half of the enclosure should be in the sun or shade, with the other half cooler or shaded.Your turtle can always find a comfortable place to sit.To make sure the temperatures are in the right range, install thermometers on each end of the enclosure.
Step 8: Provide your turtle with something to burrow into.
To regulate its temperature, your turtle will burrow into the ground.To make it easier for your turtle to burrow, place a layer of wood chips or dry leaves at the base of the enclosure that it can dig into to stay cool.If you want to cover the whole enclosure in a substrate material, you can set up a smaller area for burrowing.Dry leaves can be used to cover half of the shaded area of your enclosure.Don't use gravel, sand, or anything else that is very hard as a substrate.It is possible that your turtle will become ill as a result of eating it.
Step 9: Clean water is required to fill a large shallow dish.
Water is needed for drinking and for soaking in.Place a large saucer or dish no more than 1 inch deep in your turtle's enclosure and fill it with water free from chlorine.The water should be kept away from a source of heat.Turtles can be harmed by chlorine, which is found in most tap water.If you want to treat your tap water, use a water conditioner.Water conditioners can be found at your local pet store.
Step 10: The enclosure can be decorated with logs, rocks, or plants.
Adding decorations to the enclosure will make your turtle feel more at home and give it more places to be alone.If you want to hide your turtle, add some plants and hollow logs.The warmer part of the enclosure is where your turtle can bask in the heat.If you add decorations, make sure they sit on the ground and won't fall over.Flat rocks are not allowed in the enclosure.If the rocks are too tall, your turtle may fall and hurt itself.
Step 11: Feed your turtle at least once a day.
Eastern box turtles don't need to eat a lot.You can commit to feeding it until it stops eating.You should have a good idea of how much your turtle will eat after a week or so.Dropping food in front of the enclosure is how you can feed your turtle.You can feed the turtle with one hand and hold it with the other.
Step 12: It should be a mix of plants and animals.
Most vets recommend feeding a box turtle a diet of 60 percent animal and 40 percent plant matter.Feed your turtle a mix of animals in the form of crickets, worms, and grubs and plant matter such as lettuce or other leafy greens.Your local pet store should have feeders for turtles.You can raise your own crickets.Some turtles enjoy being fed, while others prefer to hunt for their food.Try to see which method of feeding your turtle enjoys the most.If you know how much your turtle eats, you can tailor each meal to give it the right amount of both animal and plant matter.To keep their diet balanced, make 60 percent of their meals insects and 40 percent lettuce.
Step 13: Fruits and berries are a good way to treat your turtle.
Turtles don't like to eat strawberries frequently due to their high levels of sugar.Every week or two, give your turtle a strawberry or similar treat to keep it happy.It might be difficult to find a treat that your turtle likes.Try different types of fruits and vegetables until you find one that your turtle will love.
Step 14: They should supplement their diet with calcium.
Turtles will get some calcium from their diet, but it will need to be supplemented in order to keep its shell strong.Sprinkle a small pinch over your turtle's food 2 to 3 times a week if you purchase a calcium supplement that doesn't contain phosphorous.It's a good idea to get a supplement for turtles from your pet store.It may have other vitamins and minerals that will help your turtle stay healthy.
Step 15: The enclosure should be misted 2 to 3 times a day.
Eastern box turtles thrive in humid environments, with a humidity of around 65% being the most comfortable.If you want to keep your turtle's enclosure very humid, fill a spray bottle with water and use it to mist it 2 to 3 times a day.Purchase a hydrometer from your local pet store and install it in the tank to find out how humid the enclosure is.Only water that is free from chlorine can be used to mist the enclosure.
Step 16: The water should be cleaned and replaced every day.
As your turtle spends a lot of time in its water, it will defecate in the water dish and dirty it often.Make sure your turtle always has clean water by disposing of the dirty water, scrubbing the water dish, and replacing it with fresh water each day.Water and a brush are all you need to clean the water dish.There is a chance that soap could harm your turtle or make it unhappy.You may need to change the water more frequently if you keep multiple turtles.
Step 17: The enclosure needs to be cleaned daily.
While you don't need to clean out the entire enclosure every day, you should perform a small spot clean to get rid of any waste in the enclosure.If you want to get rid of the feces in the enclosure, use a small scoop.The chances of your turtle getting sick will decrease if the enclosure is kept clean.If your turtle's feces becomes a white or grey color, it may be time to take it to the vet.
Step 18: The whole tank should be cleaned at least once a month.
Before washing the decorations down with water, you need to remove all of the material from the enclosure.Before returning the decorations to the enclosure, let them dry.You can set aside a day each month to clean your turtle's enclosure.It will be harder to miss a cleaning if you clean the enclosure at least once a month.The decorations should be in the same spot.The entire enclosure should be cleaned at least once a month.The enclosure needs to be cleaned out every 2 to 3 weeks.
Step 19: Prepare your turtle for the winter.
If you live in a cold area or expose your turtle to cold weather, it may want to take a break for 4 to 6 months.Make sure your turtle is kept warm and safe during this time, and that it has plenty of leaves to burrow under.Ensure that your turtle is healthy by taking it to a vet.Your vet may encourage you to keep the turtle inside and in a temperature regulated area if it's not.
Step 20: You should observe your turtle for signs of illness.
There are many different health issues that can afflict your turtle, all of which are difficult to detect and treat on your own.If your turtle stops eating, has swollen eyelid, gets red spots or dry skin, or otherwise seems to be acting differently, take it to a vet to make sure it isn't sick.You can find a vet with experience treating exotic animals on the internet.It is possible to take your turtle for a checkup every year to make sure it is well cared for.