FAQ - Box Turtle Diet

Diet

Box turtles are primarily carnivorous scavengers who seasonally browse on fruits and berries.

 Animal Items

Never offer scorpions or lightning bugs

Plant Items

A diet consisting of a mixture of primarily animal items with occasional supplementation of plant items is nutritionally complete.   Vitamin supplements are unnecessary, and in fact are often harmful.

Housing

In order to meet their UV light requirements and maintain normal light cycles, box turtles are best housed outdoors.  In desert environments, they do require the provision of additional humidity.  This can be accomplished by planting shrubs that are frequently watered in the turtle’s habitat.  It is important to also provide an insulated shelter for protection from excessive heat or cold.

A puddle of fresh standing water shallow enough for the box turtle to walk across should be constantly available in the environment.  

Gut-Loading

Gut-loading is the practice of feeding insects a diet high in calcium, protein, and other nutrients prior to offering the insects to reptiles and amphibians.  Domestic crickets and meal worms should be fed a diet consisting of four parts chicken or turkey starter mash and one part calcium carbonate for two or three days before offering the crickets to your pet. Also, offer the crickets water in a shallow dish or wet sponge.  Gut-loading beyond 2-3 days is not beneficial, and can actually decrease the life expectancy of the insects.

© Sonora Veterinary Group, 2003  Free for distribution with proper citation.