Ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata)

Short answers

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

120×60×50 cm of floor area (keeping them outdoors in summer is strongly recommended).

Ornate box turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–30 °C (ambient 24–29 °C), basking spot 32–38 °C (basking spot), at night 15–20 °C.

Ornate box turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

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

Ornate box turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 30–40 years, sometimes over 50.

Ornate box turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–30 °C (ambient 24–29 °C)

Night temperature

15–20 °C

Basking spot

32–38 °C (basking spot)

Humidity

40–60 % (a humid hide is essential)

UVB

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

Enclosure

Minimum size

120×60×50 cm of floor area (keeping them outdoors in summer is strongly recommended)

Substrate

A loam and sand mix they can dig in, with leaf litter or coco humus

Feeding

Food

Omnivorous but mostly animal-based – earthworms, slugs, insects; plus windfall fruit, berries and vegetables

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily to every other day

Key facts

Adult size

10–15 cm shell length

Life expectancy

30–40 years, sometimes over 50

Origin

The central USA / Great Plains to northern Mexico (prairie and grassland)

Protection status

CITES Appendix II (the genus Terrapene), EU Regulation Annex B; proof of origin plus registration with the authority required

Brumation

A winter rest or brumation is needed, about 2–4 months at 4–10 °C (healthy animals only)

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is recommended. The males are territorial and aggressive – never keep them together. At most one male with several females in a very large (outdoor) facility under supervision.

Notes

A land dweller (not an aquatic animal, despite the group name). It reacts badly to cool plus wet (respiratory infections, swollen eyes, a runny nose). Keeping it purely indoors leads to shell damage and deficiencies – summer in an outdoor enclosure is ideal.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) – Intermediate
• Spotted box turtle (Terrapene nelsoni) – Expert
• 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 Ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120×60×50 cm of floor area (keeping them outdoors in summer is strongly recommended)), substrate (A loam and sand mix they can dig in, with leaf litter or coco humus), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.