Can my box turtle and water turtle live in the same enclosure?

Question

I have an eastern box turtle and a small water turtle (I believe either a florida red-belly or a river cooter). I have just built an outdoor enclosure that is about 8 feet by 20 feet long that will have a small pond in it (Like you can buy at Home Depot made of plastic) with filtration. I have planted a few things, aloe, cucumbers, tomatoes in the enclosure. It is meant for the box turtle but I would like to put the little water turtle in the same enclosure but want to make sure they will be ok together. I figure that in this area (Alabama) they would live near each other in the wild anyway.

Oddly, the box turtle did bury himself this winter for about 2 months even though he was in an inside enclosure with a sun lamp. The water turtle, also inside, had an aquarium with a lamp but didn't act any different than usual.

Answer 1

Normally I'd say definitely not, but in this case you may have a chance. If it's truly 8 x 20 feet, with only one box turtle and one water turtle, and they are both native... It would probably work. I'd try to use the largest sized pond you have room for, to ensure the water turtle has enough room, but also make part of it shallow enough (or add another water source) that the box turtle can get safely in and out of it... If you decide to do this I would make it strictly a trial thing... Watch them VERY closely for signs of stress and aggression, make sure both are getting enough of the right food, make it possible for them to avoid each other at all costs (like providing multiple hide sources, if you use artificial heat put it in multiple areas so they aren't forced to contend with each other etc...) and make sure both of their needs are met. But with such a large enclosure, sounds like you've got a decent shot:-)

Answer 2

It's not a good idea. Box turtles are more of land turtles. They cannot swim well.If you were to put them together, your Eastern would drown or refuse to soak.

It's possible they would get along but they enclosure is improper. The other thing is, box turtles hibernate. I am not sure about water turtles doing so, but you need a hibernation area. Living in Alabama, you don't need to take your turtle inside, but need to allow him burrow at least a foot.Some burrow at 2.

You will need to fence in your boxer. They like to wander and at a glance look alot like a rock. You don't want an accident with the lawn mower. You will need a hide area and partial sun and shade.

Answer 3

congrats! this sounds like a perfect turtle habitat, yes they both can live in this sized pen, make sure that there's a step out of the pond in case the box turtle falls in while drinking, put in some hiding places for the box turtle and plant several areas thick with shade. Both can overwinter in your pen, they do not bury themselves, we add 6" hay or leaves to our pen about halloween
or first frost for insulation ( I live in Birmingham & this is how we keep our turtles) good luck

Answer 4

no no no. the box turtle will attack the litle one. my science teacher had an aquarium in class and put these two together. i saw terrible things for a few days and couldnt stand it anymore, and convinced him to give me the little one then i released in in the creek. however, considering the size of the enclosure, if there are lots of hiding places maybe it will be safe, but i'd still beg you not to do it, give them separate ponds

Answer 5

I don't recommend housing different species together. Even if they do live near each other in the wild, they aren't forced to "actually live with each other".