Guys,

I am in need of so help. I got this turtle and was told that his setup should be on sand and to soak him in water once a week.

Saying this as i look at him he dont seem happy or normal acting.

Does anyone know how the tank should be setup or a good caresheet?

thanks

Casey

I just did a search and came up with this link. It describes a number of different "Asian" boxturtles with pictures and care for each. Aparently the different ones need different specific care. Good luck.

http://www.turtlepuddle.org/cuora/Asian.html

Thanks for the link. Now i got a lot of reading to do.

Well, realizing that there were more than one kind, I thought it practicle you know which one you were dealing with. Some do differ quite a bit in general husbandry and feeding. Good luck with it.

Quig

All Asian Box Turtles are the exception to the rule when it comes to Box Turtles. All of the species are far more aquatic than any of the ones we have here in the US. In fact we house our Asian Box Turtles in Waterland Turtle Tubs with our adult Sliders and Cooters. They eat the same diet as water turtles and even swim around like they do. Treat them like a water turtle and you will have a very happy Asian Boxy. They should be kept 2/3rds water and a 1/3 land. We use play sand for the dry side in the turtle tubs.

I hope this helps!

If I had an Asian Box Turtle, that info would have helped me!

Yea i setup his tank 2/3 water and 1/3 land. I used pebbles for the land part.

So is he doing better now? Make sure you run a low wattage heater in the water as they prefer water temps around 78-85. Don't hesitate to feed him live fish as they will run them down just like a slider would.

I am using a heat light over the water. It keeps it at 82. I was going to try the live fish tomorrow. Glad to know that they will eat them.

Do you have any pics of this fellow?

I will post some when i get home from work. I am leaving early today so give me a couple of hours :)

Heres the setup. Glass is a little dirty. Tomorrow is his cleaning day.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j105/cwatkins2983/AsainBoxTurtle/DSC05675.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j105/cwatkins2983/AsainBoxTurtle/DSC05675.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j105/cwatkins2983/AsainBoxTurtle/DSC05677.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j105/cwatkins2983/AsainBoxTurtle/DSC05678.jpg

Cute little bugger! How much bigger will it get? I know with the North American boxies, they require a lot of space compared to their size (at least legally in FL they do)

well the biggest i have seen so far is as big as an adult hand. I will be getting him a bigger tank this coming summer.

All Asian Box Turtles are the exception to the rule when it comes to Box Turtles. All of the species are far more aquatic than any of the ones we have here in the US.

I don't mean to be contradictory, but this statement is inaccurate.

Research C. flavomarginata, for example. C flavomarginata is a mostly terrestrial species. I have C. flavomarginata they live on the earth floor of our greenhouse and do all their business there too-- Breeding, eating, everything. They are less aquatic that the (American) Gulf Coast Box turtle, which prefers to breed, in water.

I also want to point out that Asian box turtles are omnivorous.


Young C. trifasciata are quite aquatic (though still considered semi-aquatic) and interestingly, hatchlings of C. amboinensis prefer to hide in water as well, but when they get some size on them, they spend more time on land. I can't see what species is in the photos I'd need some clear photos with head extended.

I guess I should never use the phrase "all" when I talk about a species group. I should have said most of the species that are imported into the US are far more aquatic than our Box Turtles.

Back in the late eighties and early nineties, huge numbers of
C. flavomarginata were imported into the US. After supplies of flavomarginata tightened, then came C. amboinensis and C. galbinifrons in large numbers.