Babies tend to hide for periods of time usually buried within the substrate which is totally normal.
Baby box turtle care sheet.
Ornate box turtle care sheet joe myers this species usually fits comfortably in the palm of your hand but handling should be limited to feeding cleaning and photography.
Glass tanks do not make good homes for box turtles no matter how big they are.
A 75 100 watt heat lamp or ceramic heat emitter is necessary to provide a basking area that is warmer than the rest of the container.
Most live off the yolk for a few weeks.
While caring for a baby anything is never easy it can be very rewarding and give you a chance to bond with your new pet right from the start.
Depending on the incubation temperature.
Box turtle eggs hatch at 70 140 days.
Baby box turtle eastern box turtles should ideally be kept outdoors but a large indoor inclosure will also work if you make sure that the turtle get enough sun light or artificial uva and uvb light.
But box turtles like to soak from time to time to rehydrate and cool down so you will need a body of water that is large but shallow.
You can feed the little turtle small crickets turtle pellets wax worms meal worms and any other insect that they can catch.
Veggies like kale collard greens and spinach contain a lot of nutrients and your baby box turtle will love them.
This baby box turtle care sheet gives you a general overview of what your baby box turtle will need from you in terms of care.
Frequently the hatchlings have visible yolk sacks.
We have had success keeping desert species forest species and marsh species in a 20 gallon long aquarium with a shallow 1 depth of clean chlorine free water and live plants.
They may stay in the egg shell absorbing yolk for up to 5 days.
Humidity is beneficial to their overall health.
We keep our baby box turtles in an enclosure with damp sphagnum moss on one end a water pool in the middle and a basking spot on the other end.
Previous box turtle basics facts to get you started.
Peat moss mixed with organic potting soil no perlite or other additives makes an excellent substrate.
As far as vegetation goes dark leafy greens are always a good bet.
Most even desert dwelling species require humid enclosures.
Ideal basking area temperature is 85 90 f 29 32 c.
On the subject of water.
Hatchling box turtles are initially very delicate and sensitive to their captive environment.
Temperatures should range from 70 90 f 21 32 c to enable the turtle to regulate its temperature.