Hatchling CB Eastern Box problem!

[gargoyle]

We just purchased two hatchling eastern box's at the PCPC show and did the best job we could their to pick the best looking out of the three animals..

The smaller of the two is eating and hunting food like a champ.

The larger one is not doing as good, it is not hunting food at all and has no interest in non moving food either, they both appear to be well hydrated and healthy otherwise.

They are housed together,
housed on the expandable peat moss bedding,(not sure of the name)

offered small criks, and mealworms

also box turtle pellets and land turtle gelatin food from reptomin.

Could their posibly be a domination issue?


Please only respond if it is a suggestion that will help!

These animals appeared in perfect health when purchased!

[Turtle Matt]

From personal experience and hearing from a few people, baby box turtles can sometimes be very tricky..I know a guy that had 4 baby easterns for a few months,and then within a week or so, they all died off except one and all died the same way..This happened to me with 3 baby 3 toes that were housed with a baby eastern and the eastern did fine but the 3 toes all died very close together...Very strange...You didnt pay the $195 or whatever they were at the store did you?
Matt

[gargoyle]

No I didn't pay $195.00

Still need some advice is possible on what I can try to get this one to eat though,

different food maybe, different conditions?
I only know what I've read about these guys, this is a new species for me.

Any help would be appreciated very much!

[eyespy]

Definitely separate them to see if it's overcrowding stress. Soak the one who is refusing food as dehydration is a very common cause of loss of appetite and get a fecal exam to check for parasites. It's tough to assess hydration status without bloodwork, especially in hatchlings, as by the time the skin changes texture and the eyes get cloudy the kidneys are already in distress. Frequent urination and drinking is actually a sign of dehydration in the very young so you can't go by urine output.

[gargoyle]

Soaked it for a while last night and after about half an hour it started taking small mealworms when you held them in front of it with tweezers. Getting some wax worms for it today until my silkworms hatch and are big enough.

Thanks for the help!

[Skink Keeper]

congrats. post pics asap, i love baby box turtles.