Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina)

Short answers

Eastern box turtle: How big does the enclosure need to be?

A land dweller with a high humidity requirement: a floor area from ~120×90 cm (at least 8 sq ft), an enclosed pen rather than an open table; a shallow water dish; keeping them outdoors in summer is ideal.

Eastern box turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 21–27 °C (cool side ~21–24, warm side ~27–29), basking spot 29–31 °C (basking spot), at night 15–21 °C.

Eastern box turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 2–4).

Eastern box turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 30–50+ years (in captivity; occasionally up to ~100 in the wild).

Eastern box turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

21–27 °C (cool side ~21–24, warm side ~27–29)

Night temperature

15–21 °C

Basking spot

29–31 °C (basking spot)

Humidity

60–80 %

UVB

UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 2–4)

Enclosure

Minimum size

a land dweller with a high humidity requirement: a floor area from ~120×90 cm (at least 8 sq ft), an enclosed pen rather than an open table; a shallow water dish; keeping them outdoors in summer is ideal

Substrate

Moisture-retaining: soil, leaf litter and bark mulch, with a damp sphagnum hide

Feeding

Food

Omnivorous: snails, earthworms, insects as well as greens, fungi, berries and windfall fruit (juveniles are more carnivorous)

Feeding interval

adults every other day, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

11–16 cm shell length

Life expectancy

30–50+ years (in captivity; occasionally up to ~100 in the wild)

Origin

The eastern USA

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Annex B: registration plus proof of origin with the local nature conservation authority

Brumation

Yes – a winter rest or brumation for animals from temperate regions, ~2–4 months at 4–10 °C; it depends on the species and origin (southern populations shorter and milder)

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is preferable. The males are territorial and constant courtship stresses the females; a group only in a large outdoor enclosure with a surplus of females, and never two males

Notes

A land tortoise despite being grouped with freshwater turtles, and not a swimmer. A common mistake: too dry (which leads to eye, respiratory and shell problems) and too little area. Prone to stress, and site-faithful.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Spotted box turtle (Terrapene nelsoni) – Expert
• Ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata) – Intermediate
• Three-toed box turtle (Terrapene triunguis) – Intermediate
• Flattened musk turtle (Sternotherus depressus) – Intermediate
• Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) – Expert
• Loggerhead musk turtle (Sternotherus minor) – Intermediate
• Rough-footed mud turtle (Kinosternon hirtipes) – Intermediate
• Mississippi mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (a land dweller with a high humidity requirement: a floor area from ~120×90 cm (at least 8 sq ft), an enclosed pen rather than an open table; a shallow water dish; keeping them outdoors in summer is ideal), substrate (Moisture-retaining: soil, leaf litter and bark mulch, with a damp sphagnum hide), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.