Box turtles

Box turtles, also known as box tortoises, comprise a genus of turtle native to United States and Mexico. There are currently four recognized species of box turtles: Common box turtle, Coahuilan box turtle, Spotted box turtle and Ornate box turtle.

The box turtle can be recognized on its domed shell, which is hinged at the bottom, making it possible for the turtle to close its shell tightly to keep predators out.

Box turtles as pets

Box turtles are popular pets, both within their native range and abroad. They need exposure to real sun or proper artificial light to stay healthy. It is also important to provide them with a suitable diet. In the wild, box turtles are omnivores that will eat lot of different things. Their main food source is invertebrates, such as insects and worms, but they also eat a lot of vegetable matter, including leafs, fruits and berries. It is important to give them an equally varied diet in captivity to ensure proper nutrition.

In parts of the world, including several U.S. states, you need a permit to legally keep a box turtle.