This is ridiculously good. Very well thought out. I’m sure they’ll like it. The soil will probably compact some over time but they’re used to digging (check out the toenails!). And count about 50 days since you sent me the mating photo; if she’s fertile and the mating was successful, she’ll lay her egg clutch.
Water dish does not have to be sloping. A large flower pot saucer is a great water dish. Put a flat rock on one side so they can climb out. Also need some plants, dead wood to attract wood lice and other insects, and a little compost area to attract slugs. And the turtles will attack the lizard and frogs. They are omnivores and will eat whatever they can grab.
Maybe try and find some way to secure that lid, Blake. A raccoon grabbed my son's tortoise from his outside enclosure one night, took him to a neighbor's yard and killed him. We thought he had just somehow escaped, but sadly, my son found his shell in the neighbor's back yard. He was just a little larger than those guys there. I hate raccoons. Brutal, trashy, mangy things.
Racoon's are misunderstood there actually good pets but there still feisty though there rough and mangy appearance is thought to be rabies but its because nobody wants to take them in I have one as a pet so its fun.
Great video! Thanks for sharing! I grew up in the mid-west and frequently observed my box turtles eating tiny stones in the yard. My chickens eat them also, to assist with their digestion. You might try adding some in your enclosure and see if they like them. Box turtles require winter temps of 40 degrees or less in order to go into a full hibernation mode. In temperatures ranging between 75 and 40, their metabolism drops to a state where they will no longer eat because they can barely move. They can also drown in shallow water because of their inability to move when they are cold. I use electric waterproof seedling heat mats that provide constant 75-80 degree heat for the turtles to warm themselves on whenever they want. Mine sleep on them at night and also during the day. Box turtles can be safely kept inside during the winter, without having to hibernate, as long as they have access to a heated area that helps them stay warm enough to eat and stay healthy. They will slow down and become less active, but will remain healthy as long as they are kept dry and free from drafts that can cause them to become ill with respiratory infections that quickly lead to pneumonia and death. I had some of mine for more than 20 years and dearly loved all of them. My favorite one slept under my pillow during the day while I was away at school.
This is a very nice DIY home you've built for the turtles Blake...I admire them but could'nt lift them at all..I'm very sqeemish touching small critters!😊👍
I thought Tortoises are land-dwellers whereas Turtles dwells mainly in water. To me, these look more like tortoises and you have made them a habitat which is mainly land....so please can you explain why these are turtles, cos I’m a little confused now 😀
Turtles are hard to breed well, cause they need the dry land area required by tortoises and also need water. Tortoises cannot swim, the water level must be chosen just so that they can walk through it (though typically not necessary) and drink it (necessary). Sad thing is turtles are typically cheaper and easier to get in some countries, so many times end up being bred in fishtanks and thus living a short unhealthy life. Cheap animals with costly breeding - a disaster in the hands of a cheapskate with no regard to the needs of a living creature. Even worse is that they cannot complain...
Box turtles are North American turtles of the genus Terrapene. Although box turtles are superficially similar to tortoises in terrestrial habits and overall appearance, they are actually members of the American pond turtle family.
Thank you for this video. It has helped me understand that I don't need aw 20 by 20 mile long patch of land to have a box turtle. I have a 6.5ft by 16ft long patch of land at the front yard that I would love to use as a box turtle habitat. It has both sun and shade areas which changes with time. Is this a good size enclosure for a turtle or two? I want to limit my turtle numbers to just two (a pair so they don't get lonely when I am out working for 5 to 6 hours a day. I hate going back to do face-to-face schooling, but have to. I rather stay at home and teach using web cam meetings through Zoom or Microsoft Teams. I get to teach my students the life I have in my front and back yard. I want a turtle because it gets lonely for me too and having a turtle or two will keep me focus on human aspects while caring for nonhuman animals. Thank you so much for any response. I truly appreciate any suggestion and help on this matter. Peace be. 😎🐢🐢
@Blake: I really enjoyed your video! So very interesting. I recently watched a BBC Earth episode about the giant turtles in Africa & the burrows they build to escape the heat. It also was about how many other animals also use the burrows & how most of them would not survive if it weren't for the turtles burrows. Your turtle enclosure looks fantastic. As a child I had a small snapping turtle for over 5yrs. He was small but won most of the turtle races at school that we'd have during recess times. (Do kids do that any more?) Unfortunately one day when I got home my baby sister & her friend had taken him out of his enclosure. While playing with him they closed him up in her Barbie doll case & had forgotten about him. He died. That really bummed me out! He was my first real pet. Thank you for sharing.
The BEST turtle enclosure I’ve ever seen ! Brilliant idea and if I were you I would “patent “ THIS and sell this completed enclosure.!! It’s amazing I live in NY and would buy this for my rehabbing hatchlings during winter until spring when they get released Thanks so much for sharing!! Awesome !! I’m also interested in exploring if your idea can work for protecting baby ducklings.
wow so cool, I looove Turtles very much! I find one evening after the first rain a little baby turtle, on a side way, I took it with me home and it took a few days till it got used then it started to eat, and it did not take long it got used to me and woul his head strait out and I could pet him, he would climb up on me, it was so lovlely. He was a year with me, sadly he died, and i miss him very much!
