There's a lot to learn when you have a new pet. Our sister brand, The Wildest, is here to support you—with new pet checklists, virtual training, and expert guides. Sign up for free.
Posted over 9 years ago
| Updated over 9 years ago
I found a new home! Plenty of my friends are looking for one too. Check out other pets at this shelter, or start a new search.
Find a pet to adopt
My basic info
Species
Turtle - Other
Age
Adult
Sex
Male
Pet ID
–
My details
Has special needs
My story
Share
Here's what the humans have to say about me:
I am a young adult male captive bred Gulf Coast box turtle (Terrapene carolina majora) for adoption in the Baltimore area. Transport is available to York, PA, and Gulf Coasts can be kept in PA. I'm for adoption because my mom had to sell her house and couldn't keep me.
I'm just a little special needs in that I'm recovering from metabolic bone disease; my shell isn't shaped quite the way it should be, and my tail is little misshapen. My beak used to be too long, but the vet at Chadwell Animal Hospital gave me a beak trim so I look pretty now.
I love earthworms, and I am eating the diet recommended here, but my foster family uses Mazuri or Zoo Med Growth Formula aquatic turtle food as the base of the diet (always soaked in water of course): http://www.boxturtlefacts.org/Box_Turtle_Diet.pdf
I can live indoors all year, or I can live outside in the summer and indoors in the winter, but I CANNOT hibernate. A backyard pen should be screened in completely to keep out rats and raccoons. It should have lots of room for exploring and digging and soaking in a water pan or shallow pond designed just for box turtles. Here's an excellent article on indoor box turtle care that shows you how to create a simple, roomy, inexpensive indoor enclosure. http://nebula.wsimg.com/91b04dd9708243802568b6103ac1de41?AccessKeyId=A3E784782F81D21389AD&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
For my indoor winter pen, or if I'm indoors permanently, a "turtle table" would be a good home, and it should at least 8 square feet of space, along with a substrate such as aged hardwood bark mulch, a water pan, artificial plants for hiding, and a heat light and UVB light over one end. E-mail matts_adoptions@hotmail.com to see ideas for making a table and the best article on indoor box turtle care available.To learn more about box turtles, visit http://www.boxturtlesite.org/ or pick up a copy of Box Turtles by Tess Cook, available in most pet stores. To find instructions for a simple backyard box turtle enclosure, visit http://www.billsboxturtles.com
Keep in mind that males may harass lone females to the point of illness or death, and will likely fight with other males unless you have a VERY large enclosure with lots of visual barriers and hide spots, so it's probably best if I'm a single turtle unless you have a huge backyard enclosure for the summer.
There is a $25 adoption fee for box turtles. Local adopters pick up near downtown Baltimore, Timonium, Parkton, MD, or York, PA, after being approved for adoption. Our turtles come with a no sale/no trade adoption contract, and the marginals are notched for easy visual ID.To request an application and a picture of a simple temporary indoor enclosure, e-mail matts_adoptions@hotmail.com - make sure to indicate your CITY and STATE.
Residents of NJ require a permit for turtles. NY residents need a DEC permit to keep North American box turtles. Check www.matts.petfinder.com for more information on owning a turtle.
Like turtles but can't have one? Want to help? MATTS accepts tax-deductible donations at MATTS, P.O. Box 22321, Baltimore, MD 21203, or through PayPal at http://www.matts-turtles.org/support.html.
Rescue is funded by donations only, and we find homes for over 100 animals a year.
Find a pet to adopt
Other pets at this rescue
Pet Type
Age
Sex
Pet Type
Age
Sex
This rescue hasn't posted any pets that match these criteria.
