Jalapeño (Eastern Box Turtle)

Update 2026: I've been adopted to a wonderful family in Maryland, but MATTS may have other turtles like me for adoption.<br/><br/>PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE CONTACTING MATTS OR requesting an application. Many of your questions will be answered below.<br/><br/>I'm a juvenile male eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) who was for adoption near Baltimore, MD. I'm a bit over 4" long and probably 3-5 years old. I could live another 20-70 years. I'm a bit spicy. I get into everything and I'm an escape artist. I've been raised indoors since I was a baby, but I could live outside all year starting this summer. My shell isn't perfect, but it's pretty good for being raised indoors. <br/><br/>I have to live indoors this winter, but I could live outside all year starting in late May. MATTS can show you a simple indoor set-up for this winter if you plant to make me an outdoor closure when it gets warmer. If I'm indoors permanently, a "turtle table" would be a good home, and it should at least 10 square feet of space, along with a substrate such as aged hardwood bark mulch that can be kept damp, a water pan, artificial plants for hiding, and a heat light and UVB light over one end. Visit matts-turtles.org to see ideas for temporary housing and permanent housing.<br/><br/>This link shows you how to make an inexpensive indoor habitat from a book case. http://nebula.wsimg.com/53c57892d611153a60ef8bde1be11925?AccessKeyId=A3E784782F81D21389AD&disposition=0&alloworigin=1<br/><br/>A backyard pen should be screened in completely to keep out rats and raccoons. It should have lots of room for exploring and digging and soaking in a water pan or a shallow pond designed just for box turtles.<br/><br/>To learn more about box turtles, visit http://www.boxturtlesite.org/ or pick up a copy of Box Turtles by Tess Cook, available in some pet stores or on-line.<br/><br/>I am eating the diet recommended here, but my foster family uses Mazuri or Zoo Med Growth Formula aquatic turtle food as the base of the diet (always soaked in water until soft, of course): https://www.boxturtlefacts.org/resources<br/>I love food and I'll chase a laser pointer because I think it's a bug. Good addtions to my diet include earthworms, boiled egg, strawberries, cantaloupe, and plain baked sweet potato, but I need variety in my diet to stay healthy.<br/><br/>Keep in mind that males may harass lone females to the point of illness or death, and will likely fight with other males unless you have a VERY large enclosure with lots of visual barriers and hide spots, so it's probably best if I'm a single turtle unless you have a huge backyard enclosure.<br/><br/>There's a $35 adoption fee. Local adopters pick up by appointment in Baltimore, Timonium, or Parkton, MD. Our turtles come with a no sale/no trade adoption contract, and the edge of the shell is notched for easy visual ID.<br/>TO REQUEST AN APPLICATION, e-mail matts_adoptions@hotmail.com - make sure to indicate YOUR CITY AND STATE. Shipping is possible when temperatures permit for delivery on a Wednesday or Thursday, and adopters pay for shipping, which could be $45 to $150 depending on location. MATTS does NOT ship during the holidays. <br/><br/>I CANNOT be adopted to VA, GA, WV, PA, or most points north of PA on the eastern shore due to regulations in those states, although you can have a box turtle in CT. NY residents would need a special educational permit from the DEC to keep a box turtle. Residents of NJ, IN, and OH require a permit for EBTs. Maryland residents may require a permit IF they already have an eastern box turtle. If I'm your only eastern box turtle, then you don't need a permit in Maryland. You can adopt me in NJ, OH, and MD before getting your permit.<br/>In NJ, since our adoption contract serves as a receipt, visit https://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/exotic_apps.htm<br/>For MD (only if you will have more than one eastern box turtle), visit https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/Licenses/captive.aspx<br/><br/>Like turtles but can't have one? Want to help?<br/>1) You can share my profile on social media and share www.matts-turtles.org so people can take better care of their turtles and help wild turtles stay wild.<br/>2) MATTS has educational fliers (photos) to share on social media if you email matts_adoptions@hotmail.com to request them or visit https://www.facebook.com/MATTSTurtles/ or https://www.instagram.com/mattsturtlesandtortoises/<br/>3) Share our "Monster You Made" video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_935eZl84k on social media.<br/>4) Donate to your local wildlife rehabilitators. They rely on donations only. They do NOT received any state or federal grants.<br/>5) MATTS also accepts tax-deductible donations at MATTS, P.O. Box 341, Highland, MD 20777, or through PayPal or credit card using the yellow Donate tab at http://www.matts-turtles.org/support.html - we also do not receive any local, state, or federal grants and have no paid staff.<br/><br/>Rescue is funded by donations only, and we find homes for about 80 animals a year.<br/>Thank you!

Update 2026: I've been adopted to a wonderful family in Maryland, but MATTS may have other turtles like me for adoption.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE CONTACTING MATTS OR requesting an application. Many of your questions will be answered below.

I'm a juvenile male eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) who was for adoption near Baltimore, MD. I'm a bit over 4" long and probably 3-5 years old. I could live another 20-70 years. I'm a bit spicy. I get into everything and I'm an escape artist. I've been raised indoors since I was a baby, but I could live outside all year starting this summer. My shell isn't perfect, but it's pretty good for being raised indoors.

I have to live indoors this winter, but I could live outside all year starting in late May. MATTS can show you a simple indoor set-up for this winter if you plant to make me an outdoor closure when it gets warmer. If I'm indoors permanently, a "turtle table" would be a good home, and it should at least 10 square feet of space, alo

Update 2026: I've been adopted to a wonderful family in Maryland, but MATTS may have other turtles like me for adoption.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE CONTACTING MATTS OR requesting an application. Many of your questions will be answered below.

I'm a juvenile male eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) who was for adoption near Baltimore, MD. I'm a bit over 4" long and probably 3-5 years old. I could live another 20-70 years. I'm a bit spicy. I get into everything and I'm an escape artist. I've been raised indoors since I was a baby, but I could live outside all year starting this summer. My shell isn't perfect, but it's pretty good for being raised indoors.

I have to live indoors this winter, but I could live outside all year starting in late May. MATTS can show you a simple indoor set-up for this winter if you plant to make me an outdoor closure when it gets warmer. If I'm indoors permanently, a "turtle table" would be a good home, and it should at least 10 square feet of space, along with a substrate such as aged hardwood bark mulch that can be kept damp, a water pan, artificial plants for hiding, and a heat light and UVB light over one end. Visit matts-turtles.org to see ideas for temporary housing and permanent housing.

This link shows you how to make an inexpensive indoor habitat from a book case. http://nebula.wsimg.com/53c57892d611153a60ef8bde1be11925?AccessKe