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View Full Version : Free box turtles to good home


Natalia
12-29-2008, 17:40
We have two Mexican box turtles to give to a good home. They are healthy and happy (as far as I can tell). We've had them for about 4 years. The female has three legs. We love them but must downsize - their enclosure is about 5' x 3'. We are in the Mt. Vernon/Arlington area.

cecilia
12-29-2008, 17:47
Natalia, would it be possible for you to post pictures?
Also, do you know the species of the turtles?

Natalia
12-30-2008, 17:27
I'm not sure of the species. I will contact the former owner, but I'm not sure she will know. She rescued them and passed them on to us. I will take pictures. Is next week okay? We are headed out of town.
Thanks!

cecilia
12-30-2008, 19:20
Anytime is fine. I'm just curious because true "Mexican" box turtles aren't seen too commonly in the pet sector, at least up here. Do you know why they thought they were "Mexican?"

aja
12-30-2008, 21:50
Do you know why they thought they were "Mexican?"

Because of the sombreros they were wearing when they arrived? :D

cecilia
12-30-2008, 23:01
Because of the sombreros they were wearing when they arrived? :D

That, and the little tiny castenets they use when they dance.........

TurtleTom
12-31-2008, 01:56
I love all box turtles and would like to adopt these if they are three-toed box turtles (each back foot would have 3 toes). I live in eastern Washington but plan on being in the area the weekend of Jan 17/18.

"Turtle Tom" Silverfield

cecilia
12-31-2008, 11:32
The forces are gathering against you, CECILIA...... slowly but surely you are being sucked into the vortex........... soon, very soon, you will find yourself thinking, "They aren't very big. They take up very little space. They don't need extra heat.... they don't eat too often....... they really are interesting.....fascinating, actually...... actually, they are beautiful.... mesmerizing....... look at how they move...... wow...... how is it that I never noticed before how much I love them.... need them.... want them...... MUST HAVE THEM.......!"

!!!!!

Natalia
12-31-2008, 14:20
Turtle Tom -
Do you have turtles and an enclosure already? I am not sure about the toe issue. I will check to see how many they have. The female is missing a back leg, and we have no idea if she lost it or has always been without. She and the male look different - in shape and coloring and a bit in size. They are absolutely lovely in my opinion, but we can't keep them.

cecilia
12-31-2008, 16:06
...... I am not sure about the toe issue. I will check to see how many they have.........

Natalia, I'm not sure if you understood Tom correctly. 3-Toed box turtles are a specific sub-species of the Eastern box turtle. All American box turtles are of the genus Terrapena. Eastern boxies are Terrapena carolina carolina. Three-Toed box turtles are Terrapena carolina triunguis. Most triunguis have 3 toes on their back feet, but some have 4. Mexican box turtles are a separate sub-species, Terrapena carolina mexicana.
Many, many 3-Toed box turtles have been collected over the years for the pet trade, and it's actually likely that your turtles are triunguis.

Bren
01-01-2009, 10:12
Trust Cecilia, she knows her turtle/tortoise/terrapin stuff!

cecilia
01-01-2009, 10:38
Trust Cecilia, she knows her turtle/tortoise/terrapin stuff!

Thank you, Bren!

(Anything I don't know I just make up on the spot!)

Natalia
01-06-2009, 15:16
I will try to post pictures this week so maybe you guys can get a better idea of my turtles. I will not be able to answer specific questions about them. We provided a home for them because they were abandoned, but we are not well versed in reptiles.

Natalia
01-15-2009, 19:57
After many tries we were unable to post pictures, so there is just the one. These are Martin and Eloise who are looking for a new home. They are Mexican box turtles with three toes on the back legs (although Eloise only has one back leg.)

cecilia
01-15-2009, 23:33
Where are you located?

RTmom
01-16-2009, 11:00
The picture is tiny but it looks like a 3 toed and a russian to me?

cecilia
01-16-2009, 11:13
The picture is tiny but it looks like a 3 toed and a russian to me?

I think they are both 3-toed.

On second look, the shell of one is a little flatter on top than the other- but if they were that different, (no hinge on the plastron) I'm sure they would have noticed they were a different species. Maybe.

RTmom
01-16-2009, 11:25
. She and the male look different - in shape and coloring and a bit in size. They are absolutely lovely in my opinion, but we can't keep them.

I don't know, she said that they look different from one another?
The one on my right looks an awful lot like my torts?

Natalia
01-16-2009, 11:53
We are located in Mt. Vernon. I don't know terminology, so bear with me. The female does have a hinge on the bottom of her shell. She has a yellow-brown tone; whereas the male has a more grey-brown tone. They both are multicolored on the neck. She is smaller with a dome-shaped shell. His shell is flatter. I would not assume based on appearance that they are of the same species, only that I was told they are Mexican.

aja
01-16-2009, 11:58
Natalia I sent you a PM :)

robert phillips
01-16-2009, 14:07
We are located in Mt. Vernon. I don't know terminology, so bear with me. The female does have a hinge on the bottom of her shell. She has a yellow-brown tone; whereas the male has a more grey-brown tone. They both are multicolored on the neck. She is smaller with a dome-shaped shell. His shell is flatter. I would not assume based on appearance that they are of the same species, only that I was told they are Mexican.
Cecilia these are different species aren't they?

cecilia
01-16-2009, 14:43
Cecilia these are different species aren't they?

Im guessing that since the male apparently doesn't have a hinge, they are not only different species but different genus as well. All Terrapena (North American box turtles) have a hinge across the plastron.
I don't know if they are both "Mexican," but if the larger one is actually a Mexican tortoise then it is an animal seldom seen in captivity around here.