Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Today we rescued a baby box turtle (shell is a little less than 2 inches from front to back) from our swimming pool skimmer. Will the chlorine have done irreparable damage to the little guy? We dipped him in fresh water and he is currently buried in clean moist mulch in a tub on our screened porch. We don't know how long he was in the pool.

if your plan on keeping him, take him to the vet and see what he tells you to do. if you do not want to keep him, still get him checked by a vet and if everything is OK, release back into the wild.
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Judge me all you want...just don't share the verdict

We considered keeping him, but I think we will let him go. He seems to be OK, but scared of course. I gave him a couple of worms, but he wouldn't eat them or the tomato I left for him. I told my daughter if he wouldn't eat, we couldn't keep him. If we were going to keep him I would take him to the vet, but I can't justify the expense if we're letting him go. I don't know what it costs to treat a turtle, but I can't get out of there for a simple dog check-up and vaccination for less than $150. My husband would have a fit if I spent that on a wild animal and then turned it loose. I just hope he doesn't go back in the pool. We have several adults living in our woods, but they can't fit through the fence holes. This is the first baby I've seen. Thanks.

if he seems ok i would let him go into the woods (within an acre or two of where you found him). To keep babies from getting through the fence you could line the first 8-12 inches or so with hardware cloth that has small enough holes to keep them out.
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Judge me all you want...just don't share the verdict

I have taught my turtles to avoid the pool. I have also placed a huge flat rock on the top step just in case they fall in. Each spring I place a turtle in the pool and encourage him to swim to the rock. They have not went swimming in a long time.
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Cindy
Mom to Josie, Shorty & Seminole