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I keep my 2 3-toed box turtles in a 5x2.5 foot indoor enclosure, and in the summer they live in an outdoor pen. I think the measurements are 6x7 feet for that one. I keep the temps at around 85 degrese on one side, and on the other side temps stay at around 65-70. They are feed a veried diet, but the items that stay the same ate earthworms, dandelion greens, and romaine letuse. Its hard to give a whole list of what I feed them; I keep it varied like how it would be in the wild. Please, only serious awnsers only:)
Answer
1.) Enlarge both pens. The suggested minimum size for a single adult three-toe is 4'x4' (many sites suggest smaller pens, but considering the wild territory is almost a football field, the real answer is definately 'the bigger the better!)
2.) Studies show that wild diets are about 75% insects and such. Again, a lot of websites suggest different ratios, but the research is pretty clear- these are insectivores that eat some vegetation opportunistically.
3.) The biggest challenge I have is indoor humidity combined with the need for fresh air. Tough to do in a larger pen. I offer a 'humidity house'- basically a large clear box with a heat lamp, plant, drip bottle, and a big hole in the side covered with a curtain of plastic strips. I use suspended jugs with slow drips to irrigate live plants in the tank, and a pile of peat moss and sand in one area to create islands of humidty, but the humidity box is still often pretty crowded!
My outdoor pen is the back yard- about 25'x50'. It has a chain-link fence that I secured with long wire 'staples' into the ground, and thresholds at the gates that seal the openings. Wherever the turtles congregate at the fence, I've reinforced it with sheets of plywood to keep them from trying to walk through the big mesh. Several tubs and paint roller trays are sunk in places for drinking and bathing. Lots of bushes and plants, an unmowed area, several digging areas, etc.
My indoor home is an 8'x4' pen raised to almost waist level. Under this is storage and a 'sand table' with greenhouse heating cables to keep the thing warm. Lots of cables in the hot zone, and progressively fewer towards the cool end.
The floor of the cage has a sunken pond (a paint roller tray) and space for some plastic sunken tubs used for digging space, live plants, etc. The humidity hut is in about the middle, and each corner has a hiding place. Some potted plants help with humidiy and shade. Lights are hung from an overhead frame with a series of timers to allow them to come on and off slowly to simulate dawn and dusk.
The entire thing is covered in a heavy plastic tent to help hold the heat and humidity in and minimize drafts.
I am working on an idea for a 'air conditioner' that would blow warm, moist, filtered air into the habitat while not introducing noise or vibrations, and a simple flapped 'valve' vent to allow old air out. I am also planning for a second 8'x4' pen to join the first in the near future. One plan is for the new space to be multi-level to oncrease the cage floor space without taking up more room!
1.) Enlarge both pens. The suggested minimum size for a single adult three-toe is 4'x4' (many sites suggest smaller pens, but considering the wild territory is almost a football field, the real answer is definately 'the bigger the better!)
2.) Studies show that wild diets are about 75% insects and such. Again, a lot of websites suggest different ratios, but the research is pretty clear- these are insectivores that eat some vegetation opportunistically.
3.) The biggest challenge I have is indoor humidity combined with the need for fresh air. Tough to do in a larger pen. I offer a 'humidity house'- basically a large clear box with a heat lamp, plant, drip bottle, and a big hole in the side covered with a curtain of plastic strips. I use suspended jugs with slow drips to irrigate live plants in the tank, and a pile of peat moss and sand in one area to create islands of humidty, but the humidity box is still often pretty crowded!
My outdoor pen is the back yard- about 25'x50'. It has a chain-link fence that I secured with long wire 'staples' into the ground, and thresholds at the gates that seal the openings. Wherever the turtles congregate at the fence, I've reinforced it with sheets of plywood to keep them from trying to walk through the big mesh. Several tubs and paint roller trays are sunk in places for drinking and bathing. Lots of bushes and plants, an unmowed area, several digging areas, etc.
My indoor home is an 8'x4' pen raised to almost waist level. Under this is storage and a 'sand table' with greenhouse heating cables to keep the thing warm. Lots of cables in the hot zone, and progressively fewer towards the cool end.
The floor of the cage has a sunken pond (a paint roller tray) and space for some plastic sunken tubs used for digging space, live plants, etc. The humidity hut is in about the middle, and each corner has a hiding place. Some potted plants help with humidiy and shade. Lights are hung from an overhead frame with a series of timers to allow them to come on and off slowly to simulate dawn and dusk.
The entire thing is covered in a heavy plastic tent to help hold the heat and humidity in and minimize drafts.
I am working on an idea for a 'air conditioner' that would blow warm, moist, filtered air into the habitat while not introducing noise or vibrations, and a simple flapped 'valve' vent to allow old air out. I am also planning for a second 8'x4' pen to join the first in the near future. One plan is for the new space to be multi-level to oncrease the cage floor space without taking up more room!
What is your favorite household cleaning product or tip?
2 Happily
I am a big fan of Mr. Clean Magic Erasers, good old Ajax powder for cleaning tubs, and baking soda/vinegar combos for everything from drain openers to cleaning tile. Whats your household secret?
Answer
Well, I really love bleach for everything from taking an old stained lamp shade and filling a tub with water and bleach and letting it soak--came out like new.
I love to put a cup of water on for three minutes in the microwave to loosen up anything that's dried on and wipe it out--easiest clean up ever. (Just be careful removing the hot water.)
The very best cleaner I have found on the market that used to be sold door to door for seventeen dollars a bottle--it's called AWESOME. It can be found at the Dollar Tree stores for only one dollar. It is something that at full strength can strip paint (which I have used it for on an old table--saved me time, money and the cost of restoration), at partial strength can take off PERMANENT marker--even from vinyl and plastic. (Even cleans those old nasty computers that are fifteen years old that my hubby insists he'll need some day!)
I occassionally buy books that have permanent marker on the cover and wipe off the marker with a drop of awesome.
Here's one--I love to use fume free over cleaner on the top of my cook top of my stove. I remove everything and the enamel comes out like brand new.
Years and years ago I lived in an apartment with very cheap formica type cabinets. Nothing and I mean NOTHING would get those oily marks off the cabinet doors--I tried everything. Then I took a small spritz of oven cleaner on my rag and wiped a spot--they came out like new.
I try all sorts of unconventional cleaners in different places. I use the toxic stuff very sparingly but sometimes it takes that stuff to get it to new so it can be maintained by less toxic means.
I like using a steam cleaner for everything.
Here's a quick laundry tip--if you have something that is wrinkled but don't want to iron-- just do a load of towels and put a few towels with your wrinkled item into the dryer for a few minutes--it comes out without the wrinkles and saves on all that ironing.
Did you ever want to get out the white rings on a beautiful wood table?
These white spots and rings are from water trapped in the wood. The easiest, safest and quickest way to get this out is taking a clean dry washing cloth and heating an iron to high. After the iron is heated place the cloth down over the white ring or spot, then set the iron over it for a minute. The area will appear wet--just wipe with the same cloth and the ring is GONE. This procedure turns the trapped water into steam. I have been doing this for years and it has never ruined any wood I have done this to.
My other secret cleaner is FELS NAPTHA
It is a brick of laundry soap. It can be used as a spot cleaner on fabric or even clean plastic outdoor furniture. I have found it at the local Cubs grocery store for a few dollars and a bar lasts me a about four to six years.
Here's a quick way to freshen a room--if you use dryer sheets save them and if you use fans in the summer time just put the dryer sheet on the back side (intake side) of the fan.
Here's a dusting tip--I have some very expensive silk lamp shades that I don't want to vacuum to dust so I take my sticky tape roll for lint removal and roll over it on both sides--all the dust comes off and it's not damaged.
Want to freshen up your garbage disposal--whenever you have rinds from oranges, lemons or grapefruit or a spoiled citrus fruit just stick the whole thing down there and turn it on--smells great! When I've used every single juice from the lemons that I've sliced and used and reused to make fresh lemon-aid I take what is left and shove it down the garbage disposal--just love that lemony scent.
And if you have copper bottomed pans--and want to do a quick clean on them--use LEMON S.O.S. pads. The real lemon that is used and the steel wool can just shine those up so nicely.
Well, I really love bleach for everything from taking an old stained lamp shade and filling a tub with water and bleach and letting it soak--came out like new.
I love to put a cup of water on for three minutes in the microwave to loosen up anything that's dried on and wipe it out--easiest clean up ever. (Just be careful removing the hot water.)
The very best cleaner I have found on the market that used to be sold door to door for seventeen dollars a bottle--it's called AWESOME. It can be found at the Dollar Tree stores for only one dollar. It is something that at full strength can strip paint (which I have used it for on an old table--saved me time, money and the cost of restoration), at partial strength can take off PERMANENT marker--even from vinyl and plastic. (Even cleans those old nasty computers that are fifteen years old that my hubby insists he'll need some day!)
I occassionally buy books that have permanent marker on the cover and wipe off the marker with a drop of awesome.
Here's one--I love to use fume free over cleaner on the top of my cook top of my stove. I remove everything and the enamel comes out like brand new.
Years and years ago I lived in an apartment with very cheap formica type cabinets. Nothing and I mean NOTHING would get those oily marks off the cabinet doors--I tried everything. Then I took a small spritz of oven cleaner on my rag and wiped a spot--they came out like new.
I try all sorts of unconventional cleaners in different places. I use the toxic stuff very sparingly but sometimes it takes that stuff to get it to new so it can be maintained by less toxic means.
I like using a steam cleaner for everything.
Here's a quick laundry tip--if you have something that is wrinkled but don't want to iron-- just do a load of towels and put a few towels with your wrinkled item into the dryer for a few minutes--it comes out without the wrinkles and saves on all that ironing.
Did you ever want to get out the white rings on a beautiful wood table?
These white spots and rings are from water trapped in the wood. The easiest, safest and quickest way to get this out is taking a clean dry washing cloth and heating an iron to high. After the iron is heated place the cloth down over the white ring or spot, then set the iron over it for a minute. The area will appear wet--just wipe with the same cloth and the ring is GONE. This procedure turns the trapped water into steam. I have been doing this for years and it has never ruined any wood I have done this to.
My other secret cleaner is FELS NAPTHA
It is a brick of laundry soap. It can be used as a spot cleaner on fabric or even clean plastic outdoor furniture. I have found it at the local Cubs grocery store for a few dollars and a bar lasts me a about four to six years.
Here's a quick way to freshen a room--if you use dryer sheets save them and if you use fans in the summer time just put the dryer sheet on the back side (intake side) of the fan.
Here's a dusting tip--I have some very expensive silk lamp shades that I don't want to vacuum to dust so I take my sticky tape roll for lint removal and roll over it on both sides--all the dust comes off and it's not damaged.
Want to freshen up your garbage disposal--whenever you have rinds from oranges, lemons or grapefruit or a spoiled citrus fruit just stick the whole thing down there and turn it on--smells great! When I've used every single juice from the lemons that I've sliced and used and reused to make fresh lemon-aid I take what is left and shove it down the garbage disposal--just love that lemony scent.
And if you have copper bottomed pans--and want to do a quick clean on them--use LEMON S.O.S. pads. The real lemon that is used and the steel wool can just shine those up so nicely.
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Title Post: How do you keep your box turtles?
Rating: 92% based on 9172 ratings. 4,3 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
Rating: 92% based on 9172 ratings. 4,3 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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