How to Care for Baby Desert Box Turtles

Baby desert box turtles are delicate creatures that need time to develop. They need a stable environment in which to develop but it doesn̵7;t take long before you̵7;ll see tiny turtles moving about. With the right materials and some special attention, you̵7;ll have happy, healthy turtles in no time.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium or other container
  • Vermiculite or soil
  • Shallow dish
  • UVB lamp
  • Small dish or container
  • Fresh foods and worms
  • Flat rock
  • Bark
  • Stones
  • Plastic plants
  • Vitamin D3 and calcium supplements
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place turtles in a clean, sturdy container. An aquarium or terrarium are optimal but a plastic or Styrofoam container that is protected from any insects, including ants, will do.

    • 2

      Line the bottom of the container with about 2 inches of vermiculite or soil. Eventually, the hatchlings will want to burrow.

    • 3

      Provide hatchlings water in a shallow dish with about 1/2 inch of water. The water level should not go over the turtles̵7; heads. They will need room to soak in the water as well as drink.

    • 4

      Maintain steady heat with a UVB bulb between 80 and 88 degrees. Keep a separate, small dish or container of water in the container to keep the area humidified. They need sunlight (real or artificial) for their shells to develop and harden. Avoid leaving the tank in a window.

    • 5

      Feed the hatchlings several times a day. They will probably not be hungry for a week after hatching because they are living off the yolk sac. Give them plenty of nutritious, fresh food, such as dark leafy greens and very small crickets and earthworms to start. Begin feeding hatchlings turtle pellets when they are about three months old. As they grow, give them more of a variety to eat, including apples, bananas, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, squash, strawberries and grapes.

    • 6

      Give the turtles a place to bask. A flat rock or piece of slate is ideal; make sure the turtles can climb on top of it.

    • 7

      Place pieces of bark, stones and small plastic plants in the tank to give the turtles places to hide.