Author Archives: boxturtleworld

Zoo Med Repti Ramp Bowl Review

Leave a reply

Repti Ramp water bowl by Zoo Med


Give your box turtle easy access to water for soaking and drinking with this Repti Ramp Bowl by Zoo Med.

Soaking is an important part of a box turtle’s day, but finding suitable bowls isn’t always easy. They’re too small, or too shallow, or too hard to climb in and out of. Not to mention too easy to knock over and spill (box turtles can be a bit like bulls in a china shop—destructive!).

This bowl solves those problems. Most adult box turtles can fit into the extra-large size. And the gently sloping “steps” provide easy access.

It’s even environmentally friendly—made from 100% recycled plastic.

Keep reading for more about Zoo Med’s Repti Ramp Bowl:

Continue reading →

Zoo Med ReptiSafe Water Conditioner Review

Leave a reply

Zoo Med ReptiSafe Water Conditioner

Regular tap water can contain chlorine, ammonia and other chemicals your pet doesn’t need, but ReptiSafe Water Conditioner removes them all. And it does it almost instantly.

It also contains ions and electrolytes that help keep your reptile better hydrated.

Don’t worry about the “Terrarium” in the name. You can use it for your box turtle’s drinking/soaking water dish, too. The bottle has instructions for use both in terrariums and for drinking water.

If you also have amphibians and/or fish, it will stimulate slime coat development in them.

This is basically a great all-around product to make water safer and healthier for any reptile, amphibian or fish you own.

Keep reading for more about Zoo Med ReptiSafe:

Continue reading →

Zoo Med Digital Terrarium Thermometer Review

Leave a reply

Zoo Med Digital Terrarium Thermometer
The Zoo Med Digital Terrarium Thermometer is a simple way to keep an eye on the temperature in your box turtle’s habitat. Just place the probe, turn on the display and you can see the temperature at a glance.

The display unit hangs conveniently outside the habitat, so it’s easy to see and read.

And the display is digital, so so you don’t have to stop and stare at little lines to figure out the right reading.

It’s not perfect (yellow? Really?), and you might have to get creative if you’re hanging it on a wood habitat (suction cups won’t stick!). But it gets the job done at a good price.

Keep reading for more about Zoo Med’s Digital Terrarium Thermometer:

Continue reading →

Zoo Med PowerSun UV Bulb Review

Leave a reply

Zoo Med PowerSun UV LampThe Zoo Med PowerSun(R) UV is a self-ballasted mercury vapor lamp. These are all-in-one lamps that give off light, heat and UV rays (both UVA and UVB) at the same time. This makes them great for creating a healthy basking area for any reptile, including your box turtle.

The UV light penetrates farther than standard UV bulbs, so if you have a tall habitat to keep your boxie from escaping, enough UV can still get to him.

In smaller enclosures this bulb might be overkill and could heat the whole thing too much (you may have to experiment with where to put it to avoid this).

You do need to use the PowerSun bulbs in a ceramic socket (no plastic or other materials), but you don’t need an external ballast (a ballast controls the electrical current to the light). So they’re almost as easy to use as a regular bulb, but they give your pet all the light and heat he needs.

It is important to note that these bulbs do contain mercury. But so do the compact fluorescents we’re all being forced to switch to, so that shouldn’t make much difference at this point. It’s just something to keep in mind.

Keep reading for more about the PowerSun lamp:

Continue reading →

Zoo Med Deep Dome Lamp Fixture Review

1 Reply

Zoo Med Deep Dome Lamp Fixture
The Zoo Med Deep Dome Lamp Fixture has an extra long dome, which means just about any size bulb is hidden and protected inside. This looks much better than a lamp sticking out. And it’s safer since you don’t risk touching a hot bulb (the dome can still get hot, so you’ll still want to be careful).

The polished interior reflects light & heat better than other domes. This allows more heat and UV rays get to your pet, which is important to keeping your pet healthy.

Who knew a lamp fixture could help keep your boxie healthy?!

Keep reading for more about Zoo Med’s Deep Dome Lamp Fixture:

Continue reading →

Zoo Med 10-inch Feeding Tongs Review

1 Reply

Zoo Med 10" Steel Feeding Tongs
You know your box turtle and other reptiles love insects, but what if you’d rather not touch them? Or maybe your pet isn’t interested in canned bugs because they don’t move?

These stainless steel tongs from Zoo Med can help. They let you feed crickets, nightcrawlers, mealworms and anything else without the “yuck” factor. And you can be sure they won’t escape before your pet catches them … no more crickets loose in the house, or “lost” mealworms emerging as full-grown beetles!

They also make it easy to dangle canned or frozen insects insects invitingly (and safely) in front of your pet, making him think they’re alive.

Keep reading for more about these Stainless Steel Feeding Tongs:

Continue reading →

Zoo Med Analog Reptile Thermometer Review

Leave a reply

Zoo Med Analog Thermometer


Keeping your box turtle within his preferred temperature range is important to his health. The simplest way to monitor temperatures is with an in-habitat thermometer that’s easy to read at a glance.

The Zoo Med Analog Reptile Thermometer is an inexpensive way to do just that. You can even place two or three along one wall to make sure your heaters are creating a good temperature gradient for him.

Keep reading for more about this analog reptile thermometer:

Continue reading →

Penn Plax Tortoise Palace Stand Review

Leave a reply

Penn Plax Tortoise Palace Stand by Reptology
This stand not only gives you a sturdy place to put your Tortoise Palace, it also provides the storage space you need for all your box turtle supplies. And a good box turtle home needs a lot of supplies!

It’s made to look like furniture, so you can keep your pet in just about any room and have it blend right in. Or stand out—in a good way—if that’s what you prefer.

The Reptology Tortoise Palace is great for small to mid-sized turtles and tortoises. If you’re considering getting the Palace, you’ll want to think about where you’re going to put it. And this matching stand could be your answer.

Keep reading for more about the Penn Plax Tortoise Palace Stand:

Continue reading →

Penn Plax Tortoise Palace Review

Leave a reply

Penn Plax Tortoise Palace by ReptologyWant to treat your box turtle (or other small to mid-sized turtle/tortoise) like a king? The Reptology Tortoise Palace by Penn Plax is a great start.

It’s been available for a few years, but we only just discovered it. And it’s gorgeous! Combined with the stand made especially for it (but sold separately), it’s more like furniture than a pet home.

But it is a pet home, and a comfy one at that. It offers plenty of room for your pet to roam plus a hide area at one end. It’s water resistant and secure.

It’s also expensive, but it should last a long time. So in the long run it could be a good investment.

This thing is definitely on our want list. But we don’t own it and don’t expect to for a while. If you get one, we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Keep reading for more about the Penn Plax Tortoise House:

Continue reading →

Zoo Med Tortoise Calcium Block Review

Leave a reply

Zoo Med Tortoise Calcium Block
Do you find powdered calcium/vitamin supplements messy and tedious to use? Do your box turtles turn up their noses … well, beaks … at cuttlebone?

Try Zoo Med’s Tortoise Calcium Block. It’s a block of calcium with pieces of veggies turtles and tortoises love embedded in it. The veggies help encourage your pet to chew at the block.

No guarantees, but if your pet decides he likes this little block it’s a great calcium and vitamin (from the food included in it) supplement. And it’ll help keep his beak trimmed, too!

Keep reading for more about Zoo Med’s Tortoise Block:

Continue reading →