eastern box turtle

Question
I have an Eastern Box Turtle we named Cranks and I have a few questions if at all possible you can help.
1.  I have found a local herp vet, when do you think we should bring my turtle in for first visit?  He's/She's about an inch from head to tail and we had him/her for almost a month now.  
2. It seems like our turtle doesn't go in his shell anymore, even if we bring him outside to walk around and keep a close eye on him, he doesn't seem to go in even if I fling my hand at him quick mocking a bird.  Is he/she just use to captivity now?  When we found him his head was out of his shell, and he was in a bird infested spot, in the open, but he went in his shell in the beginning.  

3.  Is it possible that a turtle will become obese if it eats too much?  It seems like Cranks has an appetite on him and he is sort of chunky between his stomach plate and top of shell.  

I'd also like to state that our turtle has quite a personality, he hits the side of his aquarium if he is hungry and or moved around to catch attention if Cranks feels the vibrations of us moving when he is hungry!  Cranks seems to get agitated at times too and wants alone time, and other times he loves to be held, or lie in my hoody pocket in the dark and go to sleep!

Answer
Hi Justin, Before I address your actual questions the first thing I have to mention is that you need to be aware that you may actually have broken your state's laws by having taken Cranks from the wild. I believe many states have laws banning the collection of wild box turtles. The pet trade has unfortunately played a great role in the reduction of their wild numbers.

I would say the sooner the better for the vet exam and take along a fresh stool sample as well. The sample can be placed in a plastic bag and refrigerated until the appointment.
Adult boxies can become obese but a hatchling should be converting everything to growth rather then alot of excess fatty tissue. The tissues around their back legs and on either side of their tail can look a little chubby sometimes but it should not be excessive or stop them from defending themselves. Point that out to the vet to make sure you are not dealing with some type of swelling or fluid retention.
Box turtles can become very frustrated in glass tanks. They constantly try to get through to the area they can see through the glass and this is a big source of stress for them. It really sounds like Cranks might be engaging in that behaviour You might want to consider moving him to a Rubbermaid bin type enclosure. This link has captive care and diet recommendations.

http://www.turtlepuddle.org/american/boxcare.html


Boxies are a highly intelligent species and they can be very bold. Mine bosses around my Redfoot tortoises who are 10 times his size when they are in the garden together. I would not have thought that a wild boxie would abandon his only defensive strategy (boxing up) so quickly but if he seems alert and healthy otherwise.....then perhaps he has. A healthy boxie should be able to close up completely, even if he does not choose to. If he appears unable to close up due to the chunkiness then I would certainly have a vet take a look at that.