Box Turtle and Tortoise Discussion :: New home...

[Aqua8]

Well today I began to construct Squirts home and I hope it's meeting his needs... here are some pics... I got some bark stuff recommended for turts and a log, and a pool, and a plant for shade... But I need help identifying the plant...

The new home...


The pool...I see what you all meant by "I'm going to have to clean the pool daily...



Log... Think I should remove fake plants he cant reach them but still??



Peek-a-boo...


Any ideas what plant it is...??

[Aqua8]

Update... Squirt's loving his new home! at first he was afraid and stayed in his shell then he begain to travel, under the log in the water pool and then under the plant. Then I tried something new I gave him half a leaf of lettuce which was about double his size!! And to my surprise he begain to munch on it... SOOO CUTE!!! and then he ate it all and left a little corner behind for later. Now he's resting next to his log...

[Starchick]

Do you have a humidity meter in there? How well does the bark hold moisture? I was wondering about mixing something like that in with Apollo's dirt, as Michael's apartment is painfully dry and the moss doesn't seem to be doing enough.

[Aqua8]

No, no humidity meter... Have no more cash to spend for now But soon will!! And the bark is SAID to hold moisture in pretty good! In the first pic. you can see at the bottom of the tank cloudy water dropplets in the bark... Plan to buy some crickets soon too... You think Squirts big enough to hunt one down??

[Starchick]

I don't know! I've never tried Apollo on crickets because we don't have a lid on his tub, I'm afraid they'd just escape. He loves earthworms and superworms though.

[Aqua8]

How big is Apollo?? Squirts only about 2 inches

[Starchick]

Apollo's about 3 and a half inches. They must be so cute at that size! I think whether he can catch the crickets will depend more on his speed than his size. Apollo is pretty quick about snatching up his worms so it's worth a try!

[DavidY]

Don't box turtles go crazy if they can see outside the glass? I thought I read somewhere that they will pace back and forth endlessly at the glass if they're kept in an aquarium, or maybe that was tortoises. I don't remember.

[Terryo]

Your virvarium looks very nice, but I would cover three sides...back, and both sides. Also you should put the plants across the front, so you can see in but he can't see out too much. The log is really great, but I am not too sure about that bark. I would make it more natural with un milled peat moss with lots of leaf litter.
Don't forget to mist it dally....he sure is cute.

[emma]

Very cool house!

[Aqua8]

Thanks Terryo I was waiting for you to pass bye lol Yeah I'm planning to buy some woodland paper to cover the sides... He loves the og he goes in one end travels about then pops out the other!! The best thing is the log also has a hole on the top so i can look down on him and he can't see me!! Yeah I mist it twice a day, before i leave for school and before I eat dinner!

thanks everyone for all your comments!!! Squirts loving his new home and exporing every inch of it!!

Can anyone help be ID the plant in the tank??

[octpusgirl8]

The plant looks a lot like cuban oregano. Try rubbing one of the leaves between your fingers, does it smell delicious like an herb or just planty?

[Aqua8]

Smells like just like a plant strong though!! the smell wont go away with soap and water...

[octpusgirl8]

Hmmm...wierd. Better try and ID it to make sure it's safe to have in there with Squirt.