Thank you so much for your advice! I guess I did not consider giving it to a pet store an option, I will give that a try. He's still on the smaller side (but bigger than 6" so he's still kind of "cute." We call him "the baby."



I was very relieved last night to observe what seemed to be his eyeball moving behind his closed lids last night, and today it was open, bright-eyed and summing on some wood I put in there so he could dry his shell. (they take turns being kept in "the good half" of the tank, where they can come out of the water) That was a relief. Still a wound on the lid, but he looks 100% better with it open



BTW, I work for FDA. It might be interesting to some of you to know that the FDA regulates the sale of pet turtles. A rise in the incidence of salmonella in children, usually a food-borne illness, was linked to turtles kept as pets. It was determined that it was from kids putting their hands in their mouths after handling, so they banned the sale of turtles under 6" because it put a big crimp in their popularity as pets. FDA was charged with enforcing the law since we handle food-borne illness issues, but there is no present day enforcement of the law that I am aware of. There was in the beginning, but now there isn't. Turtles are as cute as dickens when newborn, but not as appealing to kiddies when they get bigger. Less pet turtles equaled less salmonella, and so problem "solved," except us enthusiasts are kept from enjoying them at that young age



Here's another tidbit - I was collecting fish samples in Chinatown the other day, and they had LIVE bullfrogs for $3.99/lb and LIVE soft shell turtles for $4.99/lb! They just weigh up these totally cool looking soft-shell turtles, and sell them by the pound like so much chuck meat!! So sad to see



Any more input would be welcomed. Otherwise, thank you for letting me bend your ear a bit



-Pete

NYC

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