Baby animals of any kind are sure to put a smile on your face and box turtles are no exception. The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher has created a new exhibit starring five tiny turtles.
Baby turtles were a popular request from visitors, so Aquarium staff created a permanent exhibit within the existing box turtle exhibit to house the turtles, ranging in age from one to two years old. The baby box turtles are offspring from the adults on exhibit. The eggs were removed from the nest and placed in an incubator to hatch. Otherwise, if the babies hatched on exhibit, they hide so well, it is hard to find them to make sure they eat enough. The juveniles are fed a mix of fruit, vegetables, and turtle gel. They are also fed earth and meal worms for added nutrition.
Box turtles frequently call North Carolina home, and rarely move far after they have found a habitat. Female box turtles lay three to five eggs in a shallow nest dug in moist soil. In early fall or late summer the babies hatch. The Aquarium propagates and raises its own box turtles each year.
Baby turtles were a popular request from visitors, so Aquarium staff created a permanent exhibit within the existing box turtle exhibit to house the turtles, ranging in age from one to two years old. The baby box turtles are offspring from the adults on exhibit. The eggs were removed from the nest and placed in an incubator to hatch. Otherwise, if the babies hatched on exhibit, they hide so well, it is hard to find them to make sure they eat enough. The juveniles are fed a mix of fruit, vegetables, and turtle gel. They are also fed earth and meal worms for added nutrition.
Box turtles frequently call North Carolina home, and rarely move far after they have found a habitat. Female box turtles lay three to five eggs in a shallow nest dug in moist soil. In early fall or late summer the babies hatch. The Aquarium propagates and raises its own box turtles each year.
If you click on this picture to see it larger, it really puts the cuteness into a whole new perspective. Mealworms...even super mealworms are not that large so the contrast against this little tike is telling. Super adorable!!! And what a special thing to have this species reproducing at the aquarium!
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