Boxed In
Posted by Alex on June 29, 2003
Q: Is it safe to have a box turtle for a pet?
What do the box turtles eat?
A: The big concern with turtles as pets is the possibility of getting sick from Salmonella (a kind of bacteria). If you wash your hands after handling your turtle and don't put your hands in your mouth until you do, you shouldn't have any problems. I had many, many turtles as I was growing up and never had any problems.
Box turtles love earthworms, various leafy plants like lettuce or spinach, fruits and even snails/slugs. Be sure you provide a variety of foods so your turtle gets proper nourishment. Think about what your turtle might find in a natural setting and you'll probably have a good idea of what foods it can eat.
John Wiessinger ( June 30, 2003)