Three-toed box turtle (Terrapene triunguis)

Short answers

Three-toed box turtle: How big does the enclosure need to be?

At least ~120×60 cm of floor area (a closed chamber to hold humidity); an outdoor pen in summer is recommended.

Three-toed box turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–29 °C (ambient), basking spot 29–32 °C (basking spot), at night 18–21 °C.

Three-toed box turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

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

Three-toed box turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 30–50 years and more.

Three-toed box turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–29 °C (ambient)

Night temperature

18–21 °C

Basking spot

29–32 °C (basking spot)

Humidity

60–80 % (a humid hide, never below ~50 %)

UVB

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

Enclosure

Minimum size

at least ~120×60 cm of floor area (a closed chamber to hold humidity); an outdoor pen in summer is recommended

Substrate

Digging substrate that holds moisture (coco humus or a sand-soil mix with leaf litter)

Feeding

Food

Omnivorous – earthworms, slugs, insects; windfall fruit, berries, vegetables

Feeding interval

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

Key facts

Adult size

11–15 cm shell length

Life expectancy

30–50 years and more

Origin

The central and south-eastern USA (the Mississippi basin)

Protection status

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

Brumation

A winter rest or brumation is needed, about 2–4 months at ~4–9 °C (40–48 °F), with high humidity of 75–80 %; stop feeding 2–3 weeks beforehand

Cohabitation

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

Notes

A land dweller (not an aquatic animal). A mesic species – it needs high humidity plus a damp hide; indoor keeping that is too dry leads to shell damage and deficiencies. Outdoors in summer is ideal.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

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Related species

• Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) – Intermediate
• Spotted box turtle (Terrapene nelsoni) – Expert
• Ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata) – 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 Three-toed box turtle (Terrapene triunguis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (at least ~120×60 cm of floor area (a closed chamber to hold humidity); an outdoor pen in summer is recommended), substrate (Digging substrate that holds moisture (coco humus or a sand-soil mix with leaf litter)), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.