Author: Shannon

Tips for Caring for your Red Eared Slider The red-eared slider is the most popular pet turtle in the world. As with all pets, they come with their own set of care needs. The following tips will help you keep your red-eared slider safe and healthy. #1: Choose your new pet turtle from a reputable breeder, pet store, shelter or rescue organization. The best place to find your new pet red-eared slider turtle is at a local animal shelter or rescue organization. If you don’t have either nearby, these turtles are easily found in major pet stores and reptile...

How to Care for a Box Turtle During Hibernation Unlike humans, wild box turtles don’t live indoors with access to air conditioning or heating to protect them during summer or winter. So when temperatures begin to drop in the fall, box turtles will practice what we call “hibernation” to protect themselves from frigid weather. In their natural wild habitat a box turtle will instinctively supervise its entire process of hibernating; from preparing to hibernate, through the actual 3-8 month hibernation period, to coming out of hibernation. However, in captivity we have to learn how to supervise the hibernation process...

Helpful Guidelines For Feeding Your Box Turtle If you have a new pet box turtle and are thinking it is just a cute, gentle little herbivore, you are in for a surprise: box turtles are actually omnivorous with a strong carnivorous streak!  They are also skilled hunters and enthusiastic eaters. Smart, energetic, and attracted to anything that moves, your box turtle will enjoy “hunting” live prey, such as worms, insects, and small shellfish, more than many of its turtle peers. But as it grows, your box turtle will also need to eat plenty of plants, fruits, and fungi to...

Traveling with Your Box Turtle Traveling with an exotic pet can be a bit more challenging than traveling with more common types of pets, such as dogs and cats. When traveling with a box turtle, the well-being of the turtle, other travelers, and legal factors must be considered.  For instance, turtles have been known to experience motion sickness – particularly during long rides – which can lead to dehydration and other lingering health issues. Box turtles may also experience stress if you are making a permanent relocation.  They possess a unique, genetic “homing beacon” that strongly binds them to...