Box Turtle and Tortoise Discussion :: Found Boxie (also found a bad pet store in Mexico)

[DanielRES1180]

While on vaction over in Mexico (still on vacation but in Colorado) I found a boxie in my grandma's yard. They said they fed it bread and tortillas and whatever they had at hand, even processed meats . I didn't want to slap them with the truth but I went ahead and told them the diet wasn't right and explained what was right. The box turtle had shell deformities and was obese, hence it couldn't close it's shell completely. I don't know how that poor thing can survive in 100+ heat since this city is practically in the middle of thr desert.
Well later in the trip we went to this grocery store with a bunch of little stores towards the entrance. Well, there was this one pet store in the middle of all this and it had a bunch of RES, close to 20 in a ten gallon tank in 1/2 of water with the basking spot way above the water. I refrained from talking to the pet store because they won't listen (it's Mexico, what can you expect) so I don't know what the people over there will do once they buy these turtles, and I don't want to know.

[reptilegrrl]

Poor box turtle. I hope they start feeding it better. Where did it come from?

[DanielRES1180]

Some doctor guy gave it to my grandma saying it ate what they were feeding her.

Anyway, I went to the store with the RES yesterday and found the water even shallower, just wet gravel in some places. I'm leaving for Florida tomorrow (now I'm in El Paso), so I can't do anything now. But I still would be powerless, because it's all about money over there, (you can even bribe yourself out of a DUI over there) . So back to the point, they would just kick me out of the store- end of story. And since people see me as a youngster barely 5 feet, they're going to take to the
"what does he know, he's a kid" mentality. I don't know what to think now.

[reptilegrrl]

Will your family at least listen to you with regard to the box turtle?

[DanielRES1180]

Yeah, they listened but the turtle lives in a vegetable garden so I guess he can just pluck the leaves and what not off and eat them.

[reptilegrrl]

Not really- turtles need to have a varied diet to get full nutrition.

[reptilegrrl]

Not really- turtles need to have a varied diet to get full nutrition.

[DanielRES1180]

Well, I told them give her veggies with friuts every now and then. But the local store doesn't have the luxury of this wide selection of turtle treats and food, etc. I'm guessing that crummy pet store sells the food, but I think they only give out pellets.