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Frequent soaks in warm water perk three-toed box turtles up and clean out their pipes.

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Recently, these specialized turtle water bowls have appeared on the market.

In a shallow bowl of warm water, the two processes occur almost simultaneously.  When Martha soaks several new box turtles in our large sink, she has to keep flushing them with new water.  We don’t want them drinking “used water.”  These daily “soaks” in their mini-hot tub really perk them up.

For soaking small quantities of three-toed box turtles, we like glass pie plates.  Box turtles can get in and out easily and cannot tip them.  Change their water after they access their toilette.

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If you feed commercial food, feed your three-toed box turtle at least two different brands.

If you feed frozen, canned, or “natural foods,” three-toed box turtles get a lot of water from their food.  Remember that when you feed commercial pelleted food, your turtle will not need to eat as much -- probably only 20-25% as much because it contains much less water.

Box Turtle Housing.  You get your best mileage out of your three-toe when you let it run around the house.  They like wandering about -- probably looking for a highway to cross.  At night you might want to cage yours.  Some people do not want to hear a herd of three-toes clomp, clomp, clomping across their hardwood bedroom floor at 3 am.

Box Turtle Foods.  Commercial pelleted box turtle foods take the guesswork out of feeding the little varmints.  Each pellet contains everything they need in the proper proportions.  It doesn’t spoil -- unless it gets wet.  It’s convenient.  It’s economical.  Still, it’s always fun to feed them fruits and vegetables because they love the darn stuff.  Three-toed box turtles have to eat quite a bit of it to get the same nutrition.

Here’s some favorite fruits:

·         Muskmelon

·         Watermelon

·         Strawberries

·         Bananas

·         Grapes

·         Peaches

In the vegetable category:

·         Leaf lettuce -- especially romaine

·         Tomatoes (We know it’s really a fruit)

·         Peas  

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Three-toed box turtles are not dainty eaters.  If they can walk in their food, they will.

If you don’t mind slicing and dicing or grating, they’ll also eat “hard stuff” like: 

·         Apples

·         Corn (off or on the cob)

·         Squash

·         Carrots

·         Cucumbers

·         Sweet potatoes (cooked or grated)

We don’t recommend buying a whole watermelon or chicken for your box turtle.  But if you’re eating one yourself, give your turtle a bite.  How much?  Few three-toed box turtles will eat more than one or two tablespoons of any food.  That’s what makes the commercial pellets so convenient.  You can feed them for less than a dollar a week.  

Three-toed box turtles like occasional meat treats also.  In a solid-walled cage they can catch crickets.  Turtles are quicker than you may think.  They also enjoy low-fat meats like small bits of chicken.  At 98.6^o we have no problem digesting animal fats.  Box turtles on the other hand can’t get animal fat into their systems at their lower body temperature.  

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His back end hinges down to close.

We recommend feeding more than one type of food though.  A little change of pace has got to brighten their day.  Few turtles subscribe to cable.

Substitute Foods.   An occasional feeding of dry dog food won’t hurt.  They probably can’t digest the fat and they’ll get way too much protein, but in the short run no prob.  Soak it in water to make it easier to eat.

Cat food makes them smell funny.  Really.  They like the semi-moist kind but over the long haul it could hurt them.  If yours eats some cat food every so often, no harm done.

Iguana foods are a perfect substitute.  Nutritionally, iguanas and three-toed box turtles have many of the same needs.  Look for the adult iguana foods, they contain less calcium (still way more than box turtles need).

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Nothing like a herd of three-toed box turtles to make you smile.

HOT.  HOT.  HOT.  Remember, if your three-toed box turtle has a serious problem:

·         Injury,

·         Bleeding,

·         Runny nose,

·         Swollen ears,

·         Gaping mouth,

·         Difficulty breathing.

You probably need to see your vet.  However, you can prevent most of these (except injuries) by keeping your turtle at 80^o.

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If your three-toed box turtle is active and bright-eyed, you're treating her right. 

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20-year-old female looking very strange in the face.

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And if your three-toes decide to breed, You're probably taking good care of them.

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From the looks of things, box turtles are going to be around for a long time.

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Males more colorful.

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Females are less colorful.

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About three weeks later, these eggs showed up.

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A "double-yolker" found in the water dish.

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Naturally, when a half dozen turtles tromp across them, turtle eggs suffer.

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