Central American BOX Turtle?

Kuamata · 12-31-14, 08:39 PM

So, my mother called me asking if I wanted a Central American Box Turtle with setup for free... I thought about it for a moment and said sure, why not? I mean, if it comes with set up, why not? Apparently one of her coworkers originally wanted to sell him and then decided she was just going to give him away instead. He's in a 10 gallon tank(way too small if he's an adult). Thankfully I have plenty of tanks laying around collecting dust, so.. I always keep 'em, never know when I'll need one.

Thing is, though... I can't find anything on Central American Box Turtles, I think she may of gotten confused with Central American Wood Turtles? I wish I had a picture, but I don't.

Sublimeballs · 01-01-15, 10:15 AM

Post a pic up when you get a chance for identification. But my geuss is its going to be the native box turtle to your region. I hope you've got some money to put towards the little guy... Turtles and torts are on the higher end of the spectrum as far as expenses go. UVB lighting is a requirement( mercury vapor bulbs recomended, sunlight best), large caging(4'x2.5' minimum for sigle adult, outdoors housing is best), humidity and soaks are important. Turtles are alot of work and live a long time(box turtles can live 100+ years).

I'd advise you do some research and see if a box turtle is really a commitment you want to make. I've got a redfoot tortoise and ill tell you he's 100xs the amount of work of the rest of my animals.

Kuamata · 01-01-15, 05:02 PM

Haha, you're talking to someone with parrots that live up to 100 years and cost a lot. I'm good. Commitment isn't a problem for me, just gotta make plans should I pass before them.

I do have an old 125g tank but the problem is, a tank of that size is hard to heat up, for one, super heavy, and hard to humidify... but yeah, UVB/UVA lighting because they don't consume whole prey. Already got that for our feathery ones for the winter months. It's too cold outside during this time. Got an aviary/kennel out back that our animals share. Of course, they don't go in at the same time. One group at a time. It's mostly the dog's right now because of the weather.

I'l be picking him up tomorrow, will post pics then. PS: the native here would be the Eastern... so dunno where she's getting Central American. When I hear that I think Mexico and those other countries between north and south america.

**Minkness** · 01-01-15, 05:16 PM

Sounds like you pretty much got it together! Can't wait to see your new addition. ^_^

Kuamata · 01-01-15, 06:29 PM

I just got sent this pic. Doesn't look like any box turtle I've ever seen... or he may be either really dirty or really dull from lack of UVB/UVA lighting.

**Minkness** · 01-01-15, 06:37 PM

Omg that has been in a 10 gallon tank?! I don't know much (aka anything) about turtles, but he looks like he would fill half the tank!

Also, may be some kind of gopher turtle? No idea, just throwing that out there.

Kuamata · 01-01-15, 06:41 PM

Yeah, poor fella... Feel bad for him, bein' in a little tank all this time and now bein' tossed out like yesterday's news. We'll give him a nice big place, save up for some PVC tanks. I hear they're fairly lightweight, and they don't look too bad, either.

**Minkness** · 01-01-15, 06:47 PM

Good luck on that and though he can't say it, I'll say it for him. Thank you ^_^

Kuamata · 01-01-15, 06:48 PM

Lol~ As my fiance always says, I got a bleeding heart.

Edit: By the size I guess she's had him a few years... hard to say, though, she may of got him off craigslist or something or maybe he was found outside... but I guess it makes as much sense as people abandoning their parrots after living with them a few years... I never have or ever will understand people like that. I don't understand and how you can share your life with any living, breathing creature for years and then just turn around and sell it or give it away... I mean, I've had one of my cats since I was 7 years old and I just turned 23. :/ She's soooo healthy, I'll probably get to spend another 10 years with her, or I hope I do, at least.

**Minkness** · 01-01-15, 06:54 PM

Same. When I had a house with some land I rescued horses regularly. Though I didn't keep them. I fixed them up, settled them down, and found fitting families for them. When I have my own land again I plan on starting that back up, and when I have more reptile experience, possibly opening a small reptile rescue as well since all the ones in this area are really just flippers asking for a profit from a sick animal. Uhg!

Sorry for the mini-rant lol

Kuamata · 01-01-15, 07:03 PM

Haha, that's ok, I edited my last comment into a mini rant, lol. I've always said, if I had the money I'd start a parrot rescue, but that takes thousands and thousands. 'Ransoms' are usually high, as people want to 'recoup' what they spent on a baby or an older bird. They have a habit of pricing older ones for the price of a weaned baby, which is irritating. Then they want to throw on a cage fee... so a 15 year old Blue and Gold Macaw may end up with a $1,700+ 'rehome fee'. I call it a ransom. I see so many that need help, but I don't have the money for a 1000 dollar ransom on top of the vet fee for testing alone, to make sure they aren't carrying anything and aren't a risk to mine. Then lord forbid they have anything wrong, that could easily escalate to another 1000+. So, basically, when taking in a large parrot, for example, you better be prepared to spend up to 5,000 or more for everything... I know a lot of rescues heavily depend on donations, funds, etc. 'cause we all know money doesn't just grow on trees, and, you no, it's hard to say no when you come across one in a state of emergency.

There is one I've been following, breaks my heart... Can't imagine the kind of home this little baby must of been in. A little African Grey (lives 60+ years), only a year old... feathers all frazzled and mostly plucked out, one leg already has two breaks, one with a pin that should of been removed long ago, so know he's in constant pain because his hip is out of alignment as a result... fed wild bird sunflower seed (sunflower seeds are extremely unhealthy for them in high quantities and can even become an addiction and affect mental health)... I just can't fathom, who could be so careless to let their little one fall from such a height that it continuously breaks his leg? So careless as to drive this little baby to such a point of mental unhealthiness that he rips out his own feathers? He's only a baby for crying out loud, you usually don't see self destructive habits until 6+ years of age, and, even then, it's usually still a mental problem.

**Minkness** · 01-01-15, 07:24 PM

Wow.....I all ways feel aweful when I see a half plucked bird but I'm just not a bird person. Especially the big parrots even though I think they are gorgeous and know the potential of sweetness and intelligence. However, I also know what I can handle and don't take on something I can't. I wish more people put as much thought into a new animal as we would, especially with animals that are true 'companions' like birds. =/

When I was much younger I volunteered to help a woman that had a nice outdoor aviary. 10 pairs of mated hyacinth macaws and several other large parrots I can't remember the breeds of. She had some red and green ones, peach/pinks, yellow, soooooo many! She even had an aussie black swan (which hated everyone and I called it the attack swan since it basically protected the aviary lol), so I know the time and care birds take, and every time I helped with them, I was so happy to leave lol. Other than her breeding pairs, all the others were rescues. I had no idea what her bills were though since I just helped to feed, clean, and handle them.

Kuamata · 01-01-15, 07:55 PM

Holy crap! Was she rich?! One Hyacinth alone costs $12,000, or a pair will cost that much, and a Black Swan cygnet will cost a few thousand in America, too. I'd love to have a little girl named Monroe, one day~ For now I'm happy with my Emblem Goose, Angel. I personally love my rescues more than my babies (but don't tell them that). I guess it's because they're already adults and set in their ways, where as my babies are prone to possibly changing when they hit maturity in 3-5 years.

I have three macaws (looking to adopt another as a friend for my older boy, as he doesn't get along with my two babies and I don't believe it's healthy for a bird to not have a friend of the same type), 2 cockatoos (one is happier with us rather than the others), and 1 amazon (he buddies up with the more independent cockatoo). Also have a cockatiel and English budgie who is huuuge and beautiful~ Yeah, I'm the crazy bird lady but I wouldn't have it any other way. After we adopt the Scarlet Macaw I'm building a relationship with, assuming she chooses me, I told my fiance, noooo more dogs cats or birds for a loooooong time. Snakes are ok though.

**Minkness** · 01-01-15, 08:02 PM

I honestly have NO idea where she got her money. When I found her she was in her late 70s suffering from pretty bad arthritis. I took lessons in horse riding and horsemanship from her in exchange for cleaning stalls and feeding the horses. I helped in the aviary because I liked spending time with her and saw she needed help. She was a little old lady who had a few acres of land and a tiny cottage (I think the aviary was bigger than her house lol). What I do remember was that when she was much younger, she competed in the olympics for the equines. That's what she told me anyway. I have never been one to follow horse famous people so wouldn't know otherwise, but if she was, it would explain how she had that money I guess. Either way, it was an experience I wouldn't trade for the world. She was a wonderful woman and taught me many things in the year or so I work with her. However, then I moved out if state and lost touch. Tried to find her stables through the net, but nothing ever shows and she wasn't exactly tech savy to begin with. But boy was knowing her and working with her an adventure!

Kuamata · 01-01-15, 08:22 PM

I bet! I would of looooooved working with all those amazing critters.