I need help concerning a turtle we have found in our backyard.. Can someone please help me?

Question

I live in Essex. My Stepfather had revealed to my mom and I that as he was sparying the backyard with bugspray, he found a turtle and took it in. Right now, he's living in a cardboard box and I have no idea how to take care of him. I've never had a turtle before. And I have no idea what species he is either. Please, someone who has taken care of a turtle or still is please help me and this poor little creature.

**I've just done some research on him and I think the best possible species he represents is an Eastern Box Turtle. Are they housepets are wild animals?

Answer 1

Your turtle is wild and should be let go. However, I would keep him indoors for a few days since your yard was just sprayed with chemicals - or, better yet, take him to another similar location to release him. In the meantime, box turtles eat a variety of things from fresh vegies and fruit to earthworms, maggots, mealworms, soft crickets, etc. Some favorite treats are bananas, grapes, and strawberries. Provide a shallow dish for fresh water - big enough for the turtle to climb in and out of easily. Also, a box turtle is actually a tortoise and tortoises generally can't swim. They do like to bask in shallow water, but NEVER put a land turtle in water deeper than it can comfortably stick it's head out of, and make sure he can climb out!

Answer 2

It would be best for you and the turtle to let it go. It's most likely a wild turtle and shouldn't be kept in a cage. There are some good care sheets on box turtles on line. They need a lot of space even a large aquarium would be too small. Most people that keep them build an outdoor pen for them. They need specially prepared food. Also special lighting. If you don't want to spend the money on all these things I would let him go close to where you found him. A wooded area near water would be good for a box turtle. Box turtles are mostly land turtles. You can check out some good care sheets here.

http://www.anapsid.org/box.html

http://www.kingsnake.com/rockymountain/RMHPages/RMHpr01.htm

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/1caresheets.htm

If you do decide to keep the turtle you need to follow these care sheets word for word. Reptiles need special care. Everything has to be perfect to keep them in captivity.

Answer 3

It's a wild animal, best to let it go, but I would either stop spraying chemicals or try to find a better place to relocate it that is chemical free. If you insist on keeping it there are several care sheets available online but here's one to start you off:
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/boxturtles/p/eaternboxt.htm

*one note on the other answers, you do NOT keep box turtles (or virtually any other turtles excepting very young ones) in 20 gallon aquariums!!!! They are active species and would be absolutely MISERABLE in a tank that size! I would consider a 40 gallon breeder to be the absolute MINIMUM size for one, but even that is really too small. It's best to keep them in large outdoor enclosures if at all possible. (There's a lot of other misinformation on here already, but I won't point it out so as not to "offend" anybody)

Answer 4

You will need a 20 gal long aquarium. You may use newspaper and paper towel as substrate. He needs to eat once a day- feed fresh leafy greens like mustard, spinach, bok choy, turnip, kale, (absolutely no lettuce), and zucchini, carrots, broccli. Chop his food for him and add some water- sorta like turtle soup. All of his food needs to be dusted with 2:1 calcium/phosphorus you can find at any pet store. He needs an ultraviolet light- expensive and also found at the pet store (flourescent is not uv). I would also provide a heat lamp, 75-100 watts ceramic works well or you can use a night glow. Heat needs to be on 24 hours a day. Make sure their is still a cool spot. Place a very shallow water bowl in the cool spot, this is for poopie. They get their hydration from their food. fear of somonella is bs, I have handled many wild reptiles, and smoked cigarettes right after, I hardly ever wash my hands when working with them, and I have never gotten sick from it. ONLY SICK REPTILES CAN GIVE YOU SOMONELLA, AND BIRDS CARRY IT MORE OFTEN ANYWAYS.

Answer 5

Wild turtle's do not make good pets. They carry high levels of samonella. But I know your going to keep him if you really want to, so here's the deal. You need a 20 gallon long tank, a under tank heater, a UV light source and a heat lamp. One side of the tank should be around 82 degrees and the other around 72 degrees. the warmer side should be a basking area (not submerged in water) and the other side should be deep enough for him to swim. Us a pray bottle to keep the humidity up in the tank(between 70-80% humidity) unless it is a tortoise. Feed him rosy red minnows and pellet food for turtles. Remeber, Wash Your Hand After Holding Him! (unless you like the hershey squirts!)

Answer 6

Keeping turtles is a time-honoured practice especially in villages. They help to keep the wells,storage tanks water clean. If there is such a tank or get one and pour water into it and leave the turtle to float in. Please ensure that the water is not chlorinated as it is contra-indicated for fish. The temperature of the water should be warm. Then you can introduct small fishes in it and the turtle will feed on them .Occasionally you may drop small morsels of food but please ensure that they do not muddy water . The tank water can be natural rain water or stream or rier water . It need not be filtered water. And then forget about the turtle. However, occasionally you may take it out and leave it alone in a secure secluded place to protect it from marauding animals though the turtle is quite capable of defending itself. At the slightest suspicion of approaching danger it withdrawn into itself and what remains is an immpenetable hard surface. However, its belly is extremely tender and hence the need to keep it out of harm's way.You can enjoy seeing it walking slowly round the room taking its neck out too take a measure of the world .You can handle it also. It does not bite. You may occasionally keep it upside down and watch the smart way it takes its neck out and does a somersault . Turgles are long living creatures and can provide company for you and your children also.

Answer 7

Check with your local wildlife rehabilitator. We found a huge turtle (about the size of a tire) last year - but we had no idea what to do with it. We put it in the back seat of the car and went to the police station, where they basically laughed at us (probably the right response). Then we called our vet, who referred us to the local wildlife rehabilitator. We brought the turtle to her, and we were told it was a female snapping turtle on her way to lay her eggs. The rehabilitator released the turtle in a local park a few days later, and our adventure in turtle-ville ended.

Answer 8

well if you are goging to keep him you need to do a search for a website that will alliw you to see pictures of different species of turtles so that yuo can i dentify the type of turtle he is. thenfind out what typ eof environment her works best in and fid him the proper food. i found a turtle once and i did all of this except for one thing. he was an eastern painted turtle and they do well i n groups and he refused to eat any thi ng i gave him except for turtle treats once in a while, and he dies becuse he was malnurished...so i n some case it's best to set th em free. good luck

Answer 9

We found a turtle a few years ago and it ate ground meat, but you should free it! It is a wild animal not a pet.

Answer 10

RELEASE IT in an area with no pesticide is the best thing you can do for it. They do not live nearly as long in captivity even if they are well cared for.