Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My son found a baby box turtle upside down in a ditch by land we own. He pulled it out and he was still alive. His left front leg is 3/4 missing. His right eye is closed. His left eye is 1/2 opened. When he tries to walk (which is not much, as he is real weak), he seems to walk in circles. We went to Petsmart and purchased eye drops w/Vit A. A soon as we put the drops in, his left eye opened some more. We also tried feeding him some type of emergency energy food that we got from Petsmart. Because we had a hard time getting his mouth opened, he only got a swallow or too. We also purchased a soak mixture and tried to soak him, but had to watch, as he is so weak and small, His head was getting close to going underwater (even though it was shallow). When he lays down, he stretches both back legs all the way out. Although he seems weak, he seems like a real fighter. He is about 1" or so long. We are guessing he hasn't gotten as much to eat and isn't growing much. He has no interest in eating right now. I guess what I want to know is are we doing the right things? We really want to help him. If he gets better, will we be able to let him back into the wild or will that front leg missing cause him problems. We have him indoors right now but will have expanding housing for our outside box turtles next week and am making a smaller area for young ones. Any suggestions would be appreciated. He is so helpless and we want to help make him strong. Thanks

I am not qualified to comment on any veterinary care, if needed. However, I will say the missing leg will not hamper his survival if he pulls through. Hatchlings dry out very quickly, so make sure his environment is very moist. You can keep him on moist peat or moist Sphagnum moss...which retain water and are very sterile/antimicrobial. Give him shallow watter to soak in. Give him some cover (a piece of bark, or if the moss is thick enough he can bury in and under it). To stimulate his appetite, keep him warm. Small or chopped earthworms, small slugs, pillbugs, etc........small moving insects stimulate thier appetite the most. Good luck!!

I dont have any advice, not a vet either, the above recomendations sound resonable. I just wanted to say reading your post was painful, just wanted to wish you and the little fellow the best, I hope it works out, but maybe a trip to a good vet is the right, responsible, and best thing to do at this point, since you have interviened with nature. shrug???
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Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com
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I ran home at lunch and got some wet spagnum moss and put it in there with him to keep him moist. My 12 yr old son says he may become a veterinarian that specializes in reptiles because he feels frustrated that we can't do more. We always respect the wildlife in our woods, but we didn't want to just leave him drown. We bought as much medicine as we could at Petsmart, but unfortunately, our finances are very tight right now, so going to the vet is not really a good option for us.

A wildlife rehabber might be able to help.

If you have a 12 year old send him/her on a bug mission to find sow(rollie pollies)bug, little worms, slugs and anything else that walks , crawls or slithers.The are under rocks and logs brick and log piles. The more the better put them in the tank with the little guy and if one passes by thats lunch. also make a hide area for the turtle to get under and the bugs will also and that will be easy to eat also. 10 bugs won't make a dent 40 to 50 is a good start.

All my babies live in tanks with a 24 hour live food supply and they are all healthy.I add cut up food late night and take it out mid day to afternoon the next day twice a week.