Average Lifespan: Over 25 years
Average Length: 6-7 inches
Habitat: Forests in sub-tropical to temperate climate, ponds, rice patties, and streams, Southern China, Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands
Usual Diet: Omnivorous, snails, worms, fruit
Captive Diet: Small mice, fruit, vegetables, and cat food
Mating: Mating occurs during late spring, summer, and fall. Courtship for box turtles involves some chasing and biting. The male stretches out his neck and sways back and forth so that the top of his head rubs against the female's chin. They will then play; taking turns chasing and trying to overturn each other. Eventually the male will try to bite the female and she will retreat into her shell and then they will mate.
Reproduction: Nesting occurs from March though August. The female will dig a nest that is 4 inches deep lay 2-3 clutches of 2-3 eggs per nest. The eggs are large, and take up a significant amount of space in her body, which is why she lays so few. Usually there is a month between laying clutches. Eggs hatch after 68-85 days.
Special Features: The upper and lower shells of box turtles are connected with a hinge, this allows them to completely shut their shells from predators.
Gui used to live a solitary life as a classroom pet, but after she suffered an injury that has left a permanent scar on her head, she was delivered to CNC. She now lives with three other turtles and enjoys gazing at her very own waterfall and frolicking in the deeper waters of her tank.
Average Lifespan: Wild 18 years; Captivity 38 years
Average Length: 5-8 in.
Habitat: rivers, ditches, sloughs, lakes and ponds, Southeastern United States
Usual Diet: Insects, fruit and vegetables, and sometimes small rodents.
Captive Diet: Turtle pellets, worms, fruit
Mating: Male scooters will approach female, stretch out front feet, and vibrate their long claws on the female's head and neck and bite her. If the female is receptive she will sink to the bottom and the male will mate her from a vertical position. Mating lasts up to 15 minutes.
Reproduction: Females have from 1-3 clutches in a season. Nests are dug 2-4 inches deep in soil. A clutch can have from 4 to 23 eggs. It takes 2-2.5 months before young hatch.
Special Features: Male scooters have a unique courtship dance that they will do any time between March and July. It only attracts female scooters.
L.T. is a small and very shy turtle. He was recently placed with Picasso and Gui so he would not be so lonely. Though L.T. is still quite shy with his caretakers, he has become inseparable from Nyx and Picasso. L.T. can often be found piled on top of Nyx and Picasso taking refuge from his long day of swimming.
Average Lifespan: 25 years (in nature)
Average Length: 3.5-4.5 in.
Habitat: marshy meadows, bogs, swamps, small ponds, ditches, and other shallow bodies of water, Eastern, North-eastern United States
Usual Diet: Algae, water lily seeds, worms, mollusks, crustaceans, and small amphibian eggs
Captive Diet: pinkies, fruit, worms and pellets
Mating: Mating occurs from March to May when a female selects one of her male pursuers
Reproduction: 3-4 eggs are laid by females in a nest that she has dug with her hind feet and legs. The nests are usually found in meadows, fields, or the edge of a road.
Special Features: The number and arrangement of spots on a spotted
turtle's back, like Nyx, are extremely variable and changes with age. Hatchling turtles usually have one spot on each plate, while older individuals are well sprinkled with 100 or more.
Nyx is a shy turtle. He enjoys the friends that he shares his aquarium with, especially Picasso. Nyx loves to swim around and Nyx will try to steal mice from Picasso if he doesn't eat his fast enough. You are unlikely to find a spotted turtle at the pet store, so come by often to visit Nyx!
Average Lifespan: 50 years
Average Length: 5-8 in.
Habitat: Quiet water with a muddy bottom and vegetation, Southern United States
Usual Diet: Omnivorous, preference for meat in youth, vegetation in adulthood
Captive Diet: Fuzzy mice, turtle pellets
Mating: Males engage in courtship rituals to win over females. One typical display the male does is swim backwards while holding his front legs palm up.
Reproduction: Females lay four to 23 eggs, up to three times a year. The young turtles hatch 2-3 months later.
Special Features: Red-eared sliders have yellow lines on their necks, legs, and shells, with one fat red line on each side of the head behind their ear (thus, Red-eared Slider). The "slider" part of its name comes from one of their wild habits. These turtles bask in the sun on logs in large groups, and when they are frightened, they will quickly slide into the water.
Old Red exercises daily. He likes to be in a tank that faces a window and then he swims and swims and swims towards that window. He never gets anywhere, but day after day he slides into the deep end of his pond and swims towards the window, keeping himself in great shape for an old guy.
Average Lifespan: 40-60 years
Average Length: 4.5-6 in.
Habitat: Shallow water with vegetation, Eastern United States
Usual Diet: Aquatic vegetation, insects, crayfish, and small mollusks
Captive Diet: Pinky mice, fruit, turtle pellets
Mating: The male seeks out the female and swims after her and then show off by swimming backwards. He brushes against her cheeks and if she is receptive, they will sink to the bottom of the lack or river to mate.
Reproduction: The female lays 6-12 eggs in May or June, and buries them in a hole in the soil. The eggs may hatch 2-3 months later, but some eggs do not hatch until the following spring. The hatchlings always go immediately into the water..
Special Features: Painted turtles are the most common and widely distributed turtles in the Untied States. They like to spend their time swimming in ponds and slow moving streams. The red and yellow markings on the painted turtle make it easy to identify.
Picasso is a true artist. He prefers swimming to resting and eating, always trying to perfect his moves in the water. Picasso spends his days showing off by holding his breath longer than the other turtles he lives with. Even his best friend, Nyx, takes a break from swimming on occasion, but not Picasso. So when you come to visit, look under water for the painter, he'll be there, guaranteed.