How long box turtles can live

The eastern box turtle is one of six extant subspecies of the common box turtle. It has a high-domed, rounded, hard upper shell, called a carapace.

The vivid, orange and yellow markings on its dark brown shell distinguish it from other box turtles, as do the four toes on its hind feet.

Its distinct coloring camouflages it among the damp earth, fallen leaves and other debris found on the floor of moderately moist forests. The underside of its shell, called its plastron, is dark brown and hinged. All box turtles have this bilobed plastron, which allows them to almost completely shut their shell. When threatened, the box turtle pulls its body into its shell and waits for the danger to pass. Its shell is also unique in that it can regenerate. In one reported case, the carapace of a badly burned box turtle completely regenerated.

Box turtles have a hooked upper jaw, and most have a significant overbite. Their feet are slightly webbed. There are many ways to tell a male and female box turtle apart. Males are generally larger and have shorter, thicker tails than females.

Males also have short, thick, curved hind claws, while females' hind claws are long, straight and thin. Eastern box turtles walk energetically with their heads upright and may travel about 50 meters 55 yards in one day. A homing instinct, an innate ability to navigate to a "home base" despite being in an unfamiliar area, helps this turtle find its way back home.

Eastern box turtles typically grow to 10 centimeters by 15 centimeters 4 inches by 6 inches. They are a bit larger than other subspecies within their range. The largest box turtle is the Gulf Coast box turtle, which is found along the northern region of the Gulf of Mexico. The eastern box turtle is one of the few native species housed at Reptile Discovery Center. Box turtles of all subspecies are found throughout North America, the eastern Gulf coast of Mexico, and the Yucatan Peninsula.

The subspecies Terrapene c. Eastern box turtles are predominantly terrestrial and live in a variety of vegetative areas, including shrubby grasslands, marshy meadows, open woodlands and field forest edges. They are often found near streams or ponds, or areas that have experienced heavy rainfall.

These opportunistic omnivores eat a wide variety of plants, mushrooms, fruits, insects, fish, small amphibians, eggs and even animal carrion. Younger box turtles grow very rapidly and tend to be preferentially carnivorous for the needed energy. Therefore, they spend more time in the water where it is easier to hunt. After five to six years, they move onto the land and shift to a more herbivorous diet. This will help you know how to prevent them or catch the symptoms early.

Abscesses, shell infections, respiratory infections, and parasites are all relatively common in pet turtles. Abscesses and respiratory infections are often secondary to a Vitamin A deficiency, whereas shell infections usually come from poor water quality or an injury. Turtles that live in outdoor ponds or tortoises that live in the backyard are more vulnerable to predation and the elements than their indoor-dwelling counterparts. The daily risks for an outdoor turtle are much higher than the risks for an indoor turtle, so be sure your pond or habitat is secured from predators and has adequate protection from the elements.

An outdoor pet turtle may get eaten or harassed by other pets and wildlife. Be sure your pet can't escape from the habitat by burrowing under the fencing. Keep wild animals away that could expose your pet to diseases. Common Diseases of Aquatic Turtles. VCA Animal Hospitals. What is Metabolic Bone Disease. National Marine Life Center. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile.

Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Meanwhile, terrestrial box turtles, which are illegal to breed or keep as pets in more than 20 states, have a potential lifespan of up to years, and an average longevity of 40 to 50 years in captivity. Now, as our understanding of how to properly care for turtles has grown, we are seeing those decades-long lifespans that make pet turtles such a commitment.

A poor diet along with improper lighting never allowed them to live well and grow to their full capacity. Other species of wild turtles and tortoises have even longer lifespans than pet turtles.

Some tortoises can reach or surpass years in terms of their longevity, with sea tortoises approaching similar numbers. True estimates are hypothetical at best. Why turtles live so long also tends to be somewhat of a mystery.

It also helps them live for extended periods without food or water. In turn, turtles are able to enter states of brumation and aestivation, hibernation-like states during hot and cold temperature extremes. One study published in the scientific journal Genome Biology , decoded the genome of a western painted turtle, finding some 19 genes in the brain and 23 in the heart that are activated in low-oxygen conditions.

The biggest factor in achieving a long lifespan for pet turtles is proper care. As Mitchell notes, that care begins first and foremost with temperature. In conjunction with a proper heat source, turtles should also have access to a light source that provides UVA and UVB ultraviolet light, along with an area for basking and shelter to help minimize stress.