Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had a Eastern Box turtle deposit her eggs in my yard back in the last week of May. Well yesterday my dog happened to dig where they were and actually broke one of the eggs open. I was able to stop here in time for finding the others if there were others. The turtle in the egg that she broke wasn't injured physically. However the Yoke sac was disconnected from the umbilical cord. I have the turtle now and it's survived 24 hrs. The umbilical cord is still attached to it. So my question is how should I care for this little guy so It has a chance to survive. Right now I have it in a 5 gallon tupperware with substrant and some moss. I own a Ornate and have some knowledge of box turtles but not newborns or premmatures. I've been keeping it's enclosure moist. I don't know if I should try and force feed it or not.. or if that it possible. I put my finger by it's mouth and it bites. So I don't know. Also I have it underneath the Vitam E lamp and I don't know if that's a good idea or not. I would really appreciate some guidance.

Have you tried offering small worms, like small waxworms or earthworm pieces? Perhaps since it is biting at your finger you can hold a worm in your fingers and when it goes to bite you it may get the worm and like it.

Umbilical cord???????

What do you mean, umbilical cord?

Possibly this previous post may help you with an answer.

http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1128385,1128461&key=2006

I'm as confused as Lisa, to me it sounds like the yolk has been absorbed and a little conective tissue that held it to the egg shell is still there making it look like a cord, I could be wrong but I have had hatchlings with it before, but a pic would certainly help.
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Then it's the tissue from the Sac.. I didnt' know the name for it so I put umbilical cord.. there was a lot left so much the little guy couldn't walk because the "tissue" was holding him off the ground.

Can you by any chance post a photo of the hatchling?
It sounds pretty feisty (biting at you) for a baby with a detached/damaged yolk: my experience has been that hatchlings go downhill FAST if their yolk is damaged in anyway, and don't survive.
I'm wondering if you're referring to the thin membrane that is left after the yolk is fully absorbed when you speak of an umbilical cord.

Hopefully You can view these

Heres the links if they dont' show

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b179/JetDr/P1010798.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b179/JetDr/P1010796.jpg

No need to 'force feed' this little guy: it looks as though its yolk is close to being fully absorbed.

Find a flat, comparatively rough surface to use as a serving dish (I use roof slate, terra cotta tile, ot flat rocks), and offer it pill bugs or small earthworms: I would go ahead and offer it food since it seems feisty and ready for action.

If you can get your hands on some, I'd try to wash the area with a dilute Nolvasan/Chlorhexidine solution. It looks a little raw. Gently wash the dirt off with tepid water, and blot the area with some Nolvasan. Infections in this area can be very serious.

Is there anything else I could use?

If you can't get Nolvasan/Chlorahex solution,
Betadine iodine would probably be a good option
and easily available.

I saw the pictures. The yolks sac has rupture and the tissue you see is actually what would have been absorbed by the turtle. The tissue will need to be cleaned so when it is absored, it won't have dirt taken in with it.

Can you take the hatchling to a vet? Perhaps they can use magnifying glasses to see if there is a way to remove dead tissue. I have this hatchling in my prayers!
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