Benjamin Wey’s Box Turtle Fan Site
Why I love Turtles
My name is Benjamin Wey, and ever since I was a little kid I can remember loving turtles. A lot of my friends growing up kept red-eared sliders in tanks and bowls in their homes. When their parents weren’t looking we’d take the turtles out of their tanks to race them across the driveway or tile floor, careful to get them back into the water before we were discovered. Still, red-eared’s were never my favorites. They were too high maintenance, their tanks always smelled badly, and they weren’t the friendliest of turtles.
When I was a bit older, I remember watching a TV show on Green Sea Turtles, and thinking they were the most amazing things I’d ever seen. Of course, being endangered I couldn’t get one as a pet, but I was drawn to their peaceful faces that almost seemed to be smiling at you. Then, one day I wandered into a reptile shop in Northern California on a visit to my grandparents’ house, and saw my first Box Turtle. Unlike the slider, the box turtles lived in dry substrate- not water. They were also a lot friendlier than the sliders I’d met over the years. When the store clerk let me hold one, the turtle looked at me with curiosity, kicking his arms and legs as though he were swimming. He never once hissed or disappeared into his shell, just looked at me with that sweet turtle face, wondering what my next move was going to be. The similarity between the box turtle and the Green Sea turtle- at least facially- was striking, and right then I knew that someday, as soon as I could, I was getting my own box turtles- as many as I could afford.
It was years later that I was finally able to purchase my first box turtle, Louie. I spared no expense for the little guy- splurging on a top of the line turtle enclosure with built in sockets for heat lamps and fluorescent lights (with Louie included it came to about $300). Louie got only the finest corn-cob substrate (just like the pet shop suggested) and a shallow bowl for swimming, drinking and bathing. Best of all, there was room for more turtles when I decided to expand, but I decided at first to stick with just Louie. I figured it was a little like parenting- probably easier to make sure you can take care of one child before you go having more. To this day I still only have two turtles (Louie and his “girlfriend”, Jemma), but that’s because I’m hoping they’ll mate and give me a tank full of hatchlings, free of charge.
This site is my contribution to the world of box turtles. Despite their great personalities and relatively low maintenance lifestyle (especially in comparison to the ever-popular red eared slider) there really isn’t that much information out there specifically about box turtles. Hopefully this site can help change that. In it I will cover the basics in box turtle care, and share with you some insider knowledge I’ve gained over the past few years I’ve spent caring for Louie and Jemma.
Benjamin Wey: Original Turtle Tales
Excerpt from Benjamin Wey's Turtle Tales Official Site
"Sophia the Soft-Shell Turtle Sleeps Serenely" by Benjamin Wey
Even though Sophia was born into this lifetime as a spiny soft-shell turtle, she was still a romantic. She had a carapace, which was a round and rubbery shell- a physical characteristic that most turtles didn't have at the time, a long tapered nose that turned upward on the end, and clawed webbed feet that aided her when she was in the water. All these characteristics (deformities as many would call them) contributed to her unique look, making her aesthetics memorable as it made her stand out from the bunch. It was because of this one of a kind appearance Sophia would be a highly sought out and well-paid spectacle at Hans' Traveling Oddities Show. She understood the laughter and the gasps from her viewers, but she didn't mind. The thought of being able to live off of being oneself satisfied her.
Yet, with all the fame and with all the viewers' money paying for her easy lifestyle, Sophia had no friends or neutral acquaintances among the diverse creatures in Hans' Traveling Oddities Show. The other odd animals such as the Rainbow-Colored Snake, the Dwarf Elephant, and the Skeleton Sea Lion all considered Sophia The Soft Shell Turtle, to be a narcissistic reptile with a short temper. But she didn't care, she felt like she had no need for their friendship or acceptance. The only thing that would help her get by would be her vivid dreams. Her lasting imagination would keep her company and help speed her days as a gasping and laughing stock would pass by. They protected her from all the whispers and from the reactions made up of disgust and shock; furthermore they also kept her from worrying about all the odd glances, the echoing ridicule, and the crumbs and scraps thrown at her.Without her dreams, Sophia "The Soft-Shell Turtle" would have dried up, and died.
One day, after a humiliating session of being herself, one of Sophia's dreams came true. After falling asleep from the moment she was introduced to the sick and curious crowd, she woke up engulfed in a sea of feral and chaotic passion. She opened her eyes to who she thought would be her eventual savior, a charming man with the presence of a God that looked down onto her with a nurturing gaze that was projected by what she perceived to be his genuine smile. She was fascinated with the way the man's face looked. His nose was long and full in size, yet not awkward. And his hair hung like a classy curtain, shielding his eyes, and leaving the turtle curious about the mystery before her. The taboo idea of her being held by this just made her heart even race more.
Eli Edelstein stared down at the soft-shell turtle with ideas running wild in his mind. The thought of owning such a unique creature made him proud. He would place Sophia next to his other trophies, making her a part of his exclusive entities collection- sharing a place with the two-headed wolf, the zebra-striped jackalope, and the bat-winged tarsier. The other thought was a slide show of golden dollar signs falling and streaming like a waterfall, him being baptized by all wealth. Edelstein thought to himself the fortune that could possibly be made if Sophia were to be sold to the studies of science. He then realized that Hans was a fool for keeping Sophia like this. The fortune that he could have made from selling the rare turtle was probably more than he can ever earn from charging everyone a measly $17.00 a ticket. He tapped at the tank, and smiled. "Rest well my little oddity, you will serve a better purpose in the name of science; and you will bring me great fortune," he whispered.
Sophia watched Eli Edelstein walk away from her. She tattooed his eyes and memorized his smile, all in hopes that he would revisit her in her dreams. Once he had disappeared from her view, Sophia closed her eyes and tried not to allow any tears to seep out of them. She suddenly felt empty; her soft and rubbery skin didn't protect or cover anything, her emotions nor her thoughts. She had lost them all the moment Eli Edelstein walked away from her in her life. Because of this, Sophia The Soft-Shell was not able to sleep. She was not able to dream. She stayed awake, wide- eyed and in tears as she could not ignore her patronizing gawkers. She could only wait and hope that Eli Edelstein would come back.
A little boy with red curly hair, and red and brown flakes on his skin tapped at Sophia's tank with his sticky fingers. The grease made her cringe and it distorted a portion of her view. A little girl with black hair and blue eyes cried and screamed in disgust, nearly causing her to vomit as she saw the soft-shell turtle. Sophia stared back at the nuisance, hoping that it would all be over soon. However, that wouldn't be the case for her, as Hans continued to collect each customer's payment.
After a few hours had passed and the oddities were left in the dark to fall asleep, Hans stayed up in his office, counting the money he had made from showcasing of his collection of freakish animals to the people of the town. He looked like a little boy- in the way little boys did whenever they played with their toys; he was lying on the ground and on his stomach, counting and recounting the profit he made for that night for many hours. But he would then be interrupted when a single knock was unexpectedly made on to his door.
"Who is it," Hans asked, trying not to lose count.
"May I come in," the voice behind the door asked.
"State your name, and purpose!"
After he had made his demand, there was a temporary pause. He stared sternly at the door, waiting for it to be kicked down. Then without thought, he quickly stuffed that night's earnings into the hidden safe behind his rendition of a Matisse. The knocking continued as Hans threw the money into the safe and hurriedly kicked the rest underneath his bed.
"I have a proposition for you, Hans. I wish you would let me in so that we can discuss this like real men. You know, face to face?"
"You still haven't told me who you are," asked Hans.
"If I had told you the name, Eli Edelstein, it would have served no purpose, seeing as that you and I have never met before."
"Give me a minute."
Once Hans finished hiding the rest of his money, he opened the door slowly and allowed the man in. Eli Edelstein walked in and stood in the middle of the office. He looked around and observed what kind of life this man had. Edelstein's eyes searched for luxuries, wondering how much had these oddities provided for their ringleader. Hans hadnt offered Edelstein a seat, but the mysterious man took it anyway. The door was closed slowly, and Hans stood in front of it, blocking the mysterious man's only source of exit.
"You said you had an offer for me," Hans asked.
"That shell-less turtle How much do you want for it?"
"That shell-less turtle is a soft-shell turtle, sir! And she is not for sale!"
"Surely it has a price. Name it."
"What makes you think I'd ever sell such a rare jewel? You must be crazy. You wouldnt put a price on such a rarity now, would you?"
"Name your price," Edelstein remarked.
"There is no price in old Sophia. I apologize for wasting your time, sir, but there will be no further transaction for the night."
Eli Edelstein stood up and walked over to Hans. He stared at Sophia's owner, eye to eye and with his fists clenched. He held himself back, trying hard not to resort to physically convince this man to sell him the soft-shell turtle.
"$17.00 a ticket to view your rare jewel is not a price? Be reasonable with me, Hansy, and I'll give you a reasonable price."
Eli Edelstein smiled widely, flashing his dog-like teeth. Hans looked away disgusted and trapped- having no rebuttal and realizing that Sophia did have a price after all. He knew what Mr. Edelstein meant. If Sophia were such a prized jewel to him, he wouldn't have been selling her this whole time. But now he knew he had to sell her, for he would rather buy the opportunity of never seeing this man again, rather than keep her. He forced himself to look his extorter in the eye. In a futile attempt to hide his fear, Hans caved and gave up his prized jewel. "Give me your reasonable price, and Sophia the Soft-Shell Turtle will be yours."
The next day Sophia woke up surrounded to the snickering of two men, one in front of her and the other behind her. Eli Edelstein looked down on her, holding a red cloth. She slowly turned around to see what was shading her, and she saw a man whose eyes she couldn't see. Instead she saw two round glass circles that each had a glare. The man without the visible eyes made her uncomfortable as he stared at her with a large, evil grin on his face. The thing that stood out the most to her were his teeth, which seemed to shine as bright as the man's glasses. She didn't understand why he was there when it should've just been her and Edelstein. She turned back around to her savior, and wondered what was going on. But she felt no comfort as she saw him this time. He had the same smile as the man with no eyes, a big and wide, permanent, toothy grin. Her head turned to each side, hoping to find Hans standing there, not smiling.
Eli Edelstein and his associate Dr. Greene stared down on the soft-shell turtle and thought about nothing but their future fortunes. The doctor was excited as he stared at Sophia. He was looking forward to making his name through the fame that will come about from studying this odd creature. Eli Edelstein had thought about taxidermy with Sophia, but he knew that his long time acquaintance Dr. Green was willing to buy his fame through the analysis of a rare creature. He couldn't stop smiling for he knew he was about to be rich.
"Look at her, Doctor. Isn't she beautiful?"
"She is. How did you find such a thing?"
"Now now, Doctor; you know I can't share you my secrets."
"Can't you at least tell me where you found her?"
"The only thing I can tell you is that this rare creature is going to cost you more. I didn't find a pair of these, so I am willing to let you have my only one."
"But Mr. Edelstein, why are you so easy to surrender the only one? Don't you want another uncommon animal added to your collection?" "Dr. Greene, there will always be other rare creatures that can be added to my collection. But this soft-shell turtle I have a feeling that it'll be the one that brings us both great fortunes."
"I agree, Mr. Edelstein. It'll bring you the kind of money that you've always wanted, and it shall bring me the fame I always dreamed of. My name shall forever be immortalized within my peers."
The two men looked on as they dreamed in front of each other. Sophia closed her eyes, but she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep. Anger and heartache had taken over heart as she now concluded that Mr. Edelstein was no different from the rest of the people that paid to view her.
That night, Hans had dinner in the presence of his collection of oddities. The profit he had made that day wasn't nearly as much as the other night. Everyone in town had come to see the soft-shell turtle that the papers had boasted about. Unfortunately, there was nothing to satisfy their curiosity. He felt sorrowful and regretful with what he did to these animals. To him, there should have never been a price on each creature. He ate his last meal of the day, and drank multiple glasses of wine until he got to his last one. With the bottle nearly finished, he exclaimed, "I want to be alone." He walked over to each oddity and set them free, as he no longer wanted to be a man that held such jewels captive. He didn't want to be reminded of Sophia or Eli Edelstein.
The night Hans had transformed into a moral man, Dr. Greene transformed into a man with great lust for fame. He snuck into his acquaintance's cabin after he had fallen asleep. The plan was to spray Eli Edelstein with a homemade formula that would cause him to stay asleep. Then, the doctor would steal the soft-shell turtle while Edelstein was in unconscious distraction. Unfortunately for Dr. Greene, everything had not fallen into plan.
He had successfully sprayed Eli Edelstein, causing him to stay in his current state of deep sleep. However, when he had made his way to retrieve Sophia, he realized she was in her tank, placed high on the shelves in his study. Unfortunately for Dr. Greene, he was much shorter than Edelstein, so he had to resort to climbing. He climbed up the shelf as carefully as he can, taking his time and each step slowly. There was no rush, as he knew Edelstein would not be waking up anytime soon. But by the fifth step up, excitement rushed through his body, as he didnt balance himself. He strained and reached too early for the tank, taking his hands off the shelf. It was with this slight strain from his arms everything would come falling, his body, his and Edelstein's dreams, and the soft-shell turtle. When he had fallen off the shelf, he had taken the tank with him. Fatefully, the ground welcomed them both around the same time. The shards of glass had pierced through Dr.Greene's neck, and the soft-shell turtle awoke from her near moment of slumber.
Realizing that she was no longer held in bondage by the confines of her tank, she felt a new kind of awakening for the first time. In her first instinctual move, she walked towards the sleeping Eli Edelstein. When she made it on top of the bed, and on top of his chest, she stared at his blue face. The moon's light coming from the window illuminated his face; she was reminded of how beautiful he was when she first saw him. However, the image of the charming man faded, as Sophia remembered his evil, toothy smile. Just as a midget whose heart has been stomped by a giant woman, the soft-shell turtle felt enraged and in pain. She walked over slowly to Eli Edelstein, making sure that she wouldn't wake him. Each step she took, she slowly fell into an abyss of cold rage. Her love for this man had died, and an unknown emotion that was related to hate was growing inside of her. She walked over to his face and planted her soft, rubbery self over his eyes, his nostrils, and his mouth; making sure that he would never wake up again. As she lied over his face, she started to drift off to sleep. A dream was approaching her, and in it she saw herself sleeping peacefully- back in the company of Hans, and the nonexistence of Eli Edelstein. Sophia was back to the habit of having her vivid dreams again. All thanks to her ability to sleep serenely.