In captivity it is important to provide a varied assortment of foods, as the diversity of the ornate box turtle diet can lead to them being picky eaters. Additionally, ornate box turtles will graze on low-growing vegetation, berries and even mushrooms. In the wild ornate box turtles actively hunt and consume grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and earthworms. Like all American box turtles, the ornate box turtle is omnivorous. Under no circumstances should a heat rock be used to provide the heat for a box turtle, as this will almost always lead to potentially life-threatening burns! A 75-watt spot lamp should be used to provide a basking site between 90 and 95 degrees, and the cool end should be kept between 70 and 75 degrees. For indoor caging, both cool and warm ends should be provided with the ambient temperature being about 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If kept outside in a turtle pen, the access to regular natural sunlight negates the requirement for either of the above lighting elements. Ornate box turtles of all ages should have access to UVB fluorescent lighting, in addition to a spot lamp to provide a hotspot. ![]() Ornate Box Turtle Lighting and Temperature To prevent dehydration in hatchlings, I often keep them between 60 to 70 percent humidity. An average humidity level of between 40 to 50 percent is the nominal humidity level I’ve kept adult ornate box turtles at. Hatchling ornate box turtles should be kept in slightly more humid conditions than adults. For ornate box turtles kept indoors, it is usually wise to provide a mound of moistened sphagnum moss to burrow in on the cool side of the enclosure. This can be covered lightly with twice-milled cypress mulch for aesthetics. Ornate box turtles should be kept on a sandy soil substrate deep enough to burrow in, generally no less than 4 inches deep, or at least 12 inches deep in outdoor pens. It is vital that water dishes be kept very clean and changed regularly to avoid bacterial infections. Adult ornate box turtles may be kept in small groups in 30- or 40-gallon breeder tanks or commercially available turtle/tortoise tubs, or they may be kept outdoors in turtle pens at least 4 foot by 4 foot in size with 12- to 18-inch vertical barriers. Hatchling ornate box turtles can be kept in plastic shoebox-sized enclosures with a large, extremely shallow food and water dish (large enough to soak in, shallow so they don’t drown). Optimizing the conditions for your ornate box turtle will lead to a long and healthy life. However, the longevity for box turtles is largely dependent on their diet, habitat, the cleanliness of their enclosure and stress. The records for ornate box turtle longevity indicate animals living as long as 32 to 37 years. Ornate Box Turtle Lifespanīox turtles, in general, have been recorded to live as long as 100 years, with most living between 40 and 60 years. ![]() ![]() Wild-caught turtles typically harbor internal parasites and should be treated by your veterinarian.Īdult ornate box turtles are typically between 5 to 7 inches in length, with most ornate box turtles topping out around 6 inches. If you obtain a wild-caught or farm-raised ornate box turtle, be sure to completely inspect the turtle. Additionally, given the large number of ornate box turtles sold annually, they are a common resident in reptile rescues. Ornate box turtles come from a variety of sources, including wild caught, farm raised, and some captive bred. Ornate box turtles are a pet store favorite in the United States and are some of the most popular box turtle species offered for sale in the pet industry today. Male ornate box turtles usually have a slightly concave plastron and possess red irises, and female ornate box turtles have a flat plastron with brown or yellow irises. Like all other species of American box turtle, ornate box turtles possess a hinged plastron. The bodies of ornate box turtles are mottled brown and yellow/cream with yellow, orange and/or red markings on the face and forelegs. Ornate box turtles are easily identified by their dark brown carapace with bright yellow markings radiating from the upper posterior section of each costal shield. Ornate box turtles have one of the largest natural ranges of any box turtle species – occupying nearly all of the American Midwest. Ornate Box Turtle ( Terrapene ornata ornate )
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