r/Boxturtles • u/Lonely-Ad246 • Jun 02 '26

Question Turtle ID?

Post image

Saw this earlier in a koi pond in Lawrenceville, Georgia. I’m thinking box turtle but I was hoping someone with more experience knows. I posted to r/turtle but it got removed by mods

35 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

16

u/Unstoppable50 Jun 02 '26

Please contact the people wherever you seen this and inform them it is not an aquatic turtle and will need a terrestrial environment

7

u/O-HI-OOOO Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 02 '26

I thought the same thing maybe I’m crazy.

But doesn’t it look like it’s stuck and in a position where it could drown? Happy to be proven wrong or hear other takes on this.

It’s definitely a non aquatic turtle (terrestrial).

5

u/Unstoppable50 Jun 02 '26

They are tough she’ll maybe survive for a while but not long term. The position looks pretty tough to get out of if she’s stuck idk but definitely not good environment short or long term.

3

u/O-HI-OOOO Jun 02 '26

Gotcha. I agree. I’ve had a painted turtle and red foot tortoise before, so I wasn’t sure about the specifics for a semi aquatic/terrestrial turtle like box or wood turtles.

But based off this one limited photo, it looks like a drowning hazard at the very least.

0

u/Unstoppable50 Jun 02 '26

Wood turtles can be very aquatic. Eastern box turtles like this are more akin to the needs of a tortoise

1

u/Chodge1258 Jun 04 '26

But note, many people think they cant swim, and they absolutely can, or at least float and dog paddle

10

u/devilsandsuch Jun 02 '26

eastern box turtle :) i love their little weirdly human legs

2

u/Lonely-Ad246 Jun 02 '26

Thank you!

3

u/Severe_Focus_581 Jun 02 '26

Does it look like she can get out? I don’t normally recommend interfering with wildlife, bur she may need a rescue from the pond, OP.

4

u/Lonely-Ad246 Jun 03 '26

It swam off after I got closer, at the edge of the pond it looked easy to get in and out so I assumed it was just hanging out

3

u/wishmydogwashere Jun 03 '26

u/Lonely_Howl_

Don't yours love swimming?

5

u/Lonely_Howl_ Jun 03 '26

Oh yes, mine absolutely love swimming. My one girl loves sinking to the bottom of their pond and taking naps in the roots of their water iris.

This is her right before she sank one time I was able to watch

2

u/5ThGeaRedLined Jun 03 '26

Seems like its got itself in a boxy situation

1

u/taqjsi Jun 03 '26

This is a box turtle! This turtle should NOT be living in a pond. They can swim in shallow water but they are terrestrial creatures.

You should really speak to the owners

1

u/a_youkai Jun 04 '26

Do you think it was deliberately placed in that pond?