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New Member
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Last Login: 12/1/2008 8:34:16 PM
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| I found a Eastern Box turtle that had been hit by a lawn mower and had a cracked upper jaw and a chunk taken out of the front of his shell. I took him in and made a pen for him. I have a vine for hiding and a hibiscus plant and planted some veg. in there for him. He could not eat when i first took him in but I keep food for him. He would try to eat some of the carrots I put in there once and it was to hard for him to eat. He tried to eat the earthworms and slugs all the time but could not eat them at the time. Now his upper jaw is healed up and all I can get him to eat is bugs he will not even try and of the veg or the hibiscus, I have tried dandelions flowers also. Is this normal or could i have an ornate box turtle which I know eats primarily insects. I live in KY and the ornate box turtle is not in my area, so says the research I have done on there range. So I guess my question is, is this normal and if its not what could I do. I have also tried canned box turtle food. Mahoney
0.1 Box Turtle Mahoney
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Senior Member
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I would highly suggest taking him to the vet. They will be able to fix up and stabilize his wounds and give him stuff to keep him nourished and promote shell repair and growth.
1.0 bearded dragon (Drake)
1.0.1 leopard gecko (Athena and Apollo)
0.0.1 occelated skink (Zahara)
0.0.2 wood frogs (Cloak and Dagger)
" Human kind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect." - Chief Seattle, 1855
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New Member
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| his wounds are healed well his face is and the one on his shell is healing but it is not in a vital area it is on the front of his shell and all most black again Mahoney
0.1 Box Turtle Mahoney
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Senior Member
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Okay. Check this out then
http://www.matts-turtles.org/docs/Box-Turtle-Diet.pdf
1.0 bearded dragon (Drake)
1.0.1 leopard gecko (Athena and Apollo)
0.0.1 occelated skink (Zahara)
0.0.2 wood frogs (Cloak and Dagger)
" Human kind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect." - Chief Seattle, 1855
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Average Member
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Last Login: 10/20/2008 5:09:45 PM
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Well, plant matter is a must, especially when they get older. How recent was this accident?I would start with a few sweet fruits that boxes love: Strawberries, blue/black/raspberries, and tomatos. The colors seems to attract more of a reaction. Then slowly add back in the greens. Be sneaky about it and put a bit of collard/turnip/mustard greens in with the fruits.
And while in this "insect only" period, be sure to dust the crickets with calcium powder and a multi-vitamin. You can also get caliworms and phoenix worms to help with nutrition.
Rest in Peace Odin!!! Your life may have not meant anything to those that abused you; but you meant everything to me. You will be missed my little friend.
2.2 Savannah Monitors (Loki, Freya, Saga, Thor)
0.1 Albino California Kingsnake (Rin)
1.0 California Aberrant Kingsnake (Haku)
1.1 Three-toed Box Turtles (Bowser, Genba)
1.0 Red-Ear Slider (Iggy)
0.1 Snow Corn Snake (Sakura)
0.1 Sulcata Tortoise (Casca)
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It happen about a 6 weeks ago. I dust the crickets and they are gut loaded. I will go back to the fruits to see if he will try them. I have mixed earthworms in with diff. foods and he picks through it till he finds what he wants. I have even withheld food for a couple of days to see if he would eat the plants I have growing in his pen.(mustard greens,parsley,and hibiscus) and i found him hunting penhead crickets that where in his pen.
0.1 Box TurtleMahoney
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Average Member
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Yeah, they are pretty picky at times. Still, fruits usually work. Good luck.
It's a bit pricey, and a processed food, but ZooMed does make an excellent food for boxes (it's a dry). It's got great fiber (ingredients are hays, not corn). Might try that, if you have no other option. I know I like natural feeds, but sometimes you just have to do it for the animal's likes.
Rest in Peace Odin!!! Your life may have not meant anything to those that abused you; but you meant everything to me. You will be missed my little friend.
2.2 Savannah Monitors (Loki, Freya, Saga, Thor)
0.1 Albino California Kingsnake (Rin)
1.0 California Aberrant Kingsnake (Haku)
1.1 Three-toed Box Turtles (Bowser, Genba)
1.0 Red-Ear Slider (Iggy)
0.1 Snow Corn Snake (Sakura)
0.1 Sulcata Tortoise (Casca)
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New Member
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Last Login: 9/11/2008 2:28:46 PM
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| If this happened six weeks ago the boxie sounds like he is in pretty good shape and healed up well. If he is hunting and eating, that is a marvelous sign! Since he has had major trauma and is now in a pen, he is still probably stressed and I have a few suggestions...go to the bait shop and buy a dozen nightcrawlers (Walmart even carries them in their fishing/sporting section). If you know how to hunt them on your lawn at night they come free! :-) Usually a wiggly night crawler will tempt a stubborn box turtle - if he eats it dust next meals (worms) lightly with Reptivite. Also try bright red strawberries, bananas or cantalope. My boxies never turn up their nose at any of that. Remember, your guy is stressed and has been through a lot - at least he is eating. I am uncertain if you should allow him to hibernate if he has been recently injured and is not eating well/is light weight. Keep us informed on how he is doing - I will try to log on here more - I just have had a horrid recent schedule.
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