I have some AMAZING news!! Well, it's amazing to me anyway. phratz, I think you'll appreciate this. I wake up early to take care of my turtles. My wife and baby sleep late, so I have some peace and quite (sounds meaner than it is). Plus, most of my turtles are very active in the am.
Anyway, I have this Florida box hatchling. I purchased two CB babies at a show in SC last year. The two were very healthy and had grown since their hatching a few months before. A third hatchling had not grown, and the breeder told me that he would just give me the hatchling if I thought that I could care for it. No problem!, I thought, with my vet tech background. Man, it has been horrible! This thing hasn't eaten, it's eyes swelled shut, it got a respiratory infection, it's shell turned to mush, and a few weeks ago I seriously considered putting it to sleep. Throughout the time I've had it, I put it on Ceftaz, forcefed it Reptomin and water through a 1cc syringe with an 18 gauge catheter, administered reptile ringer's (nutritive fluids) fortified with Calcium gluconate under the skin, and applied eyedrops. Now, just imagine trying to do this on a hatchling turtle scarcely bigger than a quarter! Also imagine formulating doses of this medication when it barely registers on a scale, and then converting it to use in an insulin syringe! It's been very emotionally draining, and I can't help feeling guilty for putting the little guy though all of this.
BUT, yesterday I noticed that its eyes were open and it was very responsive. Its shell has hardened with the Ca injections. Also, its breathing was far less labored. I offered it a Phoenix worm to no avail. Well, I am very happy to report that this morning it ate a substantial portion of a garden fresh earthworm!!! It was horribly pitiful to watch, but who cares! I really think that this is the road to recovery! It's just amazing that this guy is still breathing. I'm sure that it'll take months before I can really relax with its state of health and years before it can come out of quarantine, but for now I'm thrilled.
P.s. If someone wants to chastise me for this, and tell me that I'm a mean, horrible human being...save it! I'm just too happy to care right now. Plus, I know that most of you will empathize.
