Can two female box turtles live together?
Box turtles are mostly solitary creatures. They don’t live in groups in the wild, and they don’t really need companionship in captivity, either. For the most part, immature turtles can be housed together, regardless of sex, as long as they are about the same size and none are particularly aggressive.
How old does an ornate box turtle have to be to breed?
Adult ornate box turtles should be between 5 to 6 inches in carapace length before you begin to breed them. The obvious health requirements aside, to breed these turtles, adults should be between 5 to 6 inches in carapace length; this is generally reached between 7 and 10 years of age.
When does a box turtle reach its maximum size?
In general, most Box turtles will reach the size of 4 inches during their first year. After they reach that size their growth rate will drop considerably, and they will only grow about one inch for the next few years. But as they get older, and they approach their maximum sizes, their growth rate will drop even more.
How is the sex of an ornate box turtle determined?
Like other box turtles, the sex of ornate box turtles can be determined by incubation temperature. At 80 degrees, a clutch will exhibit a fairly even mix of males and females. Eggs incubated at 72 degrees will produce mostly to all male turtles. An incubation temperature of 88 degrees will produce nearly all females.
How long does an eastern box turtle live?
For the captive-raised eastern box turtle the record lifespan is more than twenty-six years, and for the captive-raised three-toed box turtle the record lifespan exceeds twenty-six years. Ornate box turtles, however, rarely live for more than seven years.
How much does a baby turtle cost?
The price of a baby turtle can vary greatly. Expect to pay between a price range of $10 and $100 depending on the turtle species. There are even some exotic turtle species that can cost between $250 and $500. Baby turtles can be relatively inexpensive in comparisons to other pets like kittens and puppies.
