How to Take Care of Baby Box Turtles

Raising baby box turtles is a challenging project best suited to an experienced reptile owner. Box turtle hatchlings in the wild are unlikely to survive their first year of life. They are susceptible to predators, parasites, environmental hazards and more. In captivity, a skilled owner can expect a relatively high survival rate for hatchlings that receive excellent care. Even for an experienced turtle enthusiast, raising hatchlings is time-consuming and difficult.

Things You'll Need

  • Terrarium or plastic container
  • Sphagnum moss
  • Water dish
  • Basking light
  • 2 thermometers
  • Live prey items
  • Fruits and vegetables
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a hatchling habitat. Use a small terrarium or plastic container filled partway with moist sphagnum moss. Add a shallow water dish and keep it filled with fresh, clean water at all times. Place thermometers at each end of the habitat.

    • 2

      Heat one end of your hatchling habitat to 85 degrees Fahrenheit using a basking light. The cooler end of the habitat should remain around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. A temperature gradient is important because it allows your hatchling turtles to regulate their body temperature by moving from place to place.

    • 3

      Allow newly hatched box turtles to absorb their yolk sacs before feeding or disturbing them. For their first week to 10 days of life, hatchlings will hide in the moistened moss and may not explore their tank. Check on them daily and place them in the water dish if necessary to encourage them to drink, but don't do anything else with your hatchlings until the yolk sac is fully absorbed.

    • 4

      Feed week-old hatchlings using small live prey items such as bloodworms or black worms. Offer finely chopped vegetables and fruit, but very young turtles will not eat items that aren't moving. Over time, they will become curious about the vegetables and within a few months may even prefer them to their live food.

    • 5

      Adjust your baby box turtles' habitat and diet as they grow. They will need a larger container within a few weeks to a couple of months. Depending upon the species of box turtle that you are raising, your hatchlings may need to be separated from one another and kept individually. Offer a more varied diet as your turtles develop.