![]() This may seem pretty long but actually, it can be quite difficult for these creatures to mate, since there may be sparse choices for breeding mates around. The breeding season of the Eastern Box Turtle runs from April to October. This is one of the contributing factors to their long lifespans. Each adult Eastern Box Turtle has the ability to contract its head and limbs into its shell when it wants to sleep, rest, hibernate, or protect itself from predators. The main, and most impressive, adaptation made by Eastern Box Turtles is the fact that they can retreat into their shells. They may have a better chance of reaching 100 when looked after by humans, though, since they have less of a risk of disease and predators, as well as environmental struggles. However, it is not unusual to hear of them reaching the grand old age of 100, putting many humans to shame! The average lifespan of the Eastern Box Turtle is around 40 years. Read our section on Eastern Box Turtle care to learn more about keeping them as pets. That being said, lots of Eastern Box Turtles end up at rescues when people realize the often lifelong commitment of looking after them since many of them outlive their owners. As a PetĮastern Box Turtles are often kept as pets because of their small size, cute appearance, and interesting behaviors. Their skin is scaly and brown but may also have yellow markings on there. Look out for a brown carapace with yellow, orange, or pale brown markings. They weigh less than a pound, usually, and feature a tall shell (also known as a carapace) that looks like a box. Berry shrubs such as strawberries, blackberries, and huckleberries provide a food source for the Turtles as well as the shading that they need.īoth indoor and outdoor habitats can be furnished with bracken fern, carpet moss, lichens, oak, and cedar logs, as well as floating plants like bladderworts and duckweed.To identify the Eastern Box Turtle you should look out for a small reptile that is usually under 6 inches. In outdoor enclosures, thick prairie grasses and low-lying shrubs provide shade and shelter to hide in. Moisture-retaining mosses such as Peat moss create a great swamp environment, especially when paired with moist soil covered in oak or sassafrass leaves. Their habitats should have both terrestrial and aquatic plants. However, they do not like direct light so will need shading too. They will want to crawl up on stones and logs to sit under the light and warm themselves up. They are cold-blooded and cannot regulate their body temperature internally, so must move to sunny and warm spots in order to warm up.Īll Turtle tanks require an incandescent heat lamp or UVB lamp for basking. Turtles that live outdoor can be moved to an indoor enclosure/tank during the winter. They can travel up to 50 meters in one day. These Turtles go against the stereotype that they are slow and sluggish.Įastern Box Turtles are very active and energetic if they have the space to move. ![]() They have an internal homing ability, which allows them to find their way home no matter how far away they are! It’s thought they receive information from the Earth’s magnetic field.Box Turtles enjoy cooked chicken and bananas, but these should only be given as an occasional treat.You can tell how old they are by counting the rings on their shell.They are the only Turtles that are able to do this. Box Turtles are named for their ability to form a “box” by closing up the moving hinges on their undershells.They are North Carolina’s state reptile.We will leave you with a few interesting facts about the Eastern Box Turtle to help decide if this is the right pet for you! They should be a healthy weight and not have any nasal discharge, puffy eyes, or any other signs of illness. Make sure that the shell is well-formed and free of cracks or dents.
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