How to Care for Three-Toed Box Turtles

Three-toed box turtles, Terrapene carolina trianguis, is a subspecies of the common box turtle, distinguished by usually having three toes rather than four on its hind feet. Three-toed and other box turtles do best in a spacious outdoor enclosure with a small pond. This subspecies is adapted to temperate regions so needs plenty of shade in hotter climates.

Things You'll Need

  • Outdoor enclosure with pond
  • Live food
  • Fresh produce
  • Cleaning brush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide a fenced enclosure with a small pool. A large plastic tray, such as a cat litter tray, filled with water forms an adequate pool. The rest of the area should consist of grass and plants, with an area of bare soil to allow the turtles to dig. Overhanging shrubs and grasses provide shade, which is essential in hotter places.

    • 2

      Feed your turtle on live food, such as earthworms, crickets and mealworms. Supplement the live meaty food with fresh vegetable produce such as leafy greens, carrots and chopped fruit. The diet should be roughly 50 percent vegetable food and 50 percent meaty food.

    • 3

      Clean the pool and replace the water at least once a week. Box turtles tend to use pools as lavatories as well as for soaking in, which means the pool can become dirty quickly. Use plain water, not cleaning chemicals, which can be dangerous to reptiles. If necessary, use a turtle-safe disinfectant from a pet store and rinse the pool shell thoroughly.