Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 10 hatchlings that were born about 6 months ago. I noticed today that 1 of the turtles hind leg seems fat. It doesnt look like any of the other turtles. Is this something I should be concerned about. Can anyone tell me what is the reason that it looks like this and what can I do about it. Any help or advice would be appreciated. He is one of the larger of the bunch so I dont think that there are any health issues but I am curious about this so I thought I would try and get some outside opinions. It is the right hind leg that I am talking about. If the pictures are not adequate enough please let me know and I will try again.

Thank you

It could be abscesses, cellulitis or trauma. You'll probably need a vet.
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two oregon newts
one male eastern box turtle
ten gallon tropical fish tank

It would be interesting it learn what and how often you feed the turtles. If he is a big eater he may be getting too much of a good (or bad) thing. Or if he isn't drinking and soaking enough he could be damaging his kidneys from excess buildup of by-products which can become toxic when turtles don't drink enough. He does appear to have dry skin. Do the turtles have a moist home? DO they get UVB lights? Are they getting too much or too little vit A?

Please give us some more info. And as someone else pointed out-it could be an infection or trauma and a vet should be consulted.

I feed them every other day. I give them butter worms and they really like the reptomin baby mini floating food sticks. I wet them first so that they are nice and soft. I just recently started trying to give them strawberries. I usually soak them for about a half an hour before I feed them I put vitamin A drops in the water. I have a UVB light and also a basking light above them. I have repti bark in half the cage and I really soak that down every day to provide them some moisture. I also have a feeding dish that has water in it for them to go in. I have a separate baby from last year who I have done the sdame things for and he seems to be doing great. I just never had so many at once to care for so maybe that is part of the problem. Because there are 10 of them in a 10 gallon tank so its kinda hard. I am going to post another message about when I can keep them outside if you have any advice about that I would appreciate it. I live in NY and keep my 4 adults outside all year round but these guys are so small I worry that they wont make it.

>>SNIP Because there are 10 of them in a 10 gallon tank so its kinda hard. I am going to post another message about when I can keep them outside if you have any advice about that I would appreciate it. I live in NY and keep my 4 adults outside all year round but these guys are so small I worry that they wont make it.

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10 in a 10 gallon tank is pushing it and I'm glad they will be moving outside soon. Did a vet ever see the leg?

No I have not taken him to a vet. It is not that I dont care about the turtle because I do but its something that I am not finacially willing to do right now. I live in NY and the vet bill I am guessing would be a couple hundred. So far I am watching him as close as I can he gets around fine the leg just looks a little wierd. Now I understand that there can be a problem but being that I have 10 babies if God forbid he wasnt to make it because of this it would certainly upset me but being that it may cost me a couple hundred to suddenly lose him a few weeks later would not sit well with me. I hope nobody reading this post gets upset with me because believe me when I tell you I am an animal/reptile lover I just cant do it right now. I have had my adults for 20 plus yrs and over the last few yrs thru trail & error am learning about raising the babies. So hopefully he thrives with a strange looking leg. THank you for your advice I look foward to many other helpful ideas. Again I hope nobody gets offended and doesnt think I do not care for my turtles.