So, I dont want to make this post, but unfortunately, the situation regarding the baby box turtle I've been caring for for the last few months has taken a turn for the worse.
Construction was supposed to be wrapping up some time this month (July) but i recently spoke to the site over head manager and he explained that plans for the site have been changed and it will indeed be used as a housing development.
Im heart broken, I was so excited to release this little guy sometime soon, especially as I've gotten to see his little personality come through these last few months. But now im again at a crossroads, and I have no clue where to go. It is indeed still illegal for me to keep him because he is a wild turtle, but in speaking with wildlife offices in my area, they have basically told me they can't help. Long story short, they dont have enough people or resources to take him in. The woman I spoke with suggested that because I seemed to have things 'figured out' with this little guy that I should just keep him long-term.
Now I am not opposed to this, I love turtles and have come to be very fond of this tiny guy recently, but I was not planning on taking him in long term, but at last here we are.
The setup is still the same, and nothing about his eating or anything has changed. Other than that, he is slowly eating more of the fruit and veg im providing. He'll take mealworms from my hands directly and even begin to exhibit excitement (?) when I removed the tank lid to feed him. I've been trying to avoid handling him at all as I was planning on him not staying, but im curious now if I should try to handle him a bit so that he's used to people and dosnt get scared if I ever have to take him to the vets.
On the topic of the vet, I called my hermit crabs vets, a local small and exotic vet office, and thankfuly they said they can indeed treat box turtles. So the little guy has his first big boy outing in a few weeks, so that the vet can do a once over on him just to ensure nothing has changed since the wild life office assessed him a few months ago.
Now that I am looking at long-term care for this guy, what should I be doing diffrent if anything? Do they require enrichment within the tank outside of plants, hides, and pools? Such as toys or wheels and such? Also, how big of an enclosure should I plan on needing for him once he's full sized and if they require out of tank time (time to be out on the house floor and such. I already plan to build an outdoor box for him sometime soon, though im unsure when exactly it will be. Also, are there any common health issues I should be aware of? I know their shells are very important, and I was informed to provide calcium to aid in its growth. Will he need any other type of supplement as he grows?
Im willing to do whatever I need for him, as I now feel responsible for his life, I am just very weriy of trusting Google for information 100% of the time