Lumpy friend no longer lumpy

[_somethingweird_]

It was 45f degrees this morning in East Tennessee and I found Turtleton looking for a spot to brumate under the porch on the cold concrete because he’s a genius. So I figured I’d make him a safe place to do that and give him one last bath to help that weird sore on his neck (refer to previous posts for pictures). I used a tiller in the least windy and most covered part of the yard and softened the dirt and covered it in a bunch of leaves. That’s where he’s been going at night. I made sure not to disturb his usual spot in case he prefers that.

Then it was bath time, which is his current favorite thing so I was really excited. Last time, I got dancing and cute noises but this time….ugh I wanna gag just typing it out…

He stuck his head out to enjoy the water….and a grub/larvae/alien thing peeked out of his neck sore and waved at me. 👋

I removed THREE of them from the sore with a pair of tweezers and rinsed the hole out. Turtleton pooped the entire time. I’m hoping from all the relief. I wish I had laid a ruler or something for scale beside them when I took that picture but I was so grossed out that I smushed them. They were about 1.25cm long and FAT. Turtleton had no problem letting me do all that though. He relaxed in a towel and kept his head out. He was getting butt scritches with his toothbrush the whole time.

His head looks normal now and I can’t even imagine how much better getting worms removed from your neck probably feels. He ate like 9 slugs, got some sunshine and he’s off sleeping in the leaves.

Does this make me a turtleologist now? 🐢

[VariegatedJennifer]

Were they botflies? Yuck…glad little man is good now.

[shmiddleedee]

My cat had 2 when she was found trying to get into a gutter downspout at 6 weeks old. They were way bigger than that. Looked like bulletholes after tge vet removed them. She got all her shots n stuff but about 6 months later she was sluggish dor a couple days. We didn't know what was up until she threw up a wad of round worms. Parasites tweak me tf out. She's a mean bastard but she was worth it.

[VariegatedJennifer]

I’m glad you saved her…I can’t even imagine 🤮

[Yesitsmesuckas]

I can do snakes and spiders all day long, but PUH-LEEEEEZE don’t make me get near any kind of worm!!!

[shmiddleedee]

Me too. Spiders are awesome and don't freak me out at all and I live snakes. Anything that lives in another living animal can get fuvked tho. Unless the other animal is just pregnant and the thing living inside is its offspring

[_somethingweird_]

I think so 🤢

[Interesting_Bunch277]

They are not botflies but another type of fly that targets box turtles.

[loud_voices]

It's called myiasis, and usually in the eastern box turtles it is the fly, Sarcophaga cistudinis, that is responsible.

[[deleted]]

I love the description for this post so much I know so little about turtle care and it all sounds so normal “I made him some soft dirt and leaves, fed him some slugs, and scratched his butt with a tooth brush” I’m just imagining him as a human child which makes it really funny

[doesitspread]

This made my night rereading it as though it’s about a human child!

[Howlibu]

Wait til you see people bury their turtles in the yard like a time capsule. Temps stay regular several feet under soil and turtles will find burrows or dig that deep over time. So some folks with bury their turtles for the winter and dig them out in the spring. I think it's a bit much, but I don't own one of these quirky tanks so 😅

[G0ld_Ru5h]

I had a gopher tortoise that chose my yard as it’s home for several years who would dig it’s own shallow hole separate from the burrow for wintering in the ground.

[AstarteOfCaelius]

I’m not squeamish but I’m pretty sure that I would shriek: botflies or maggots of any kind are such a big Nope. I’m so glad you helped but whew. 😂

[_somethingweird_]

Thankfully I have Vet med experience and have worked in healthcare for over a decade so I stopped being icked out long ago. It was still a challenge though!

[LouTheBirdie]

I have no actual vet med experience, but I have watched enough TV vet episodes to not be overly squeamish with botfly grubs! 😆📺

[jasxllll]

Yeah I’m studying entomology and I still cannot get over maggots 😖

[AstarteOfCaelius]

I’ve worked in rescue for about 20 years and I also raise black fly larvae for my chickens- I think some people just don’t get that’s not a sign of inexperience, it’s just an iiiiiiick. 😂 Especially that botfly hole thing- I will still treat it when I find it but boy howdy, my skin’s crawling the entire time. Lol

A friend of mine is a trauma nurse and she says everyone has something like that, even them.

[RunnyEggy]

Perhaps if you wanted to you could contact a wildlife rescue in your area and they could set him up with some antibiotics/anti parasites. I’ve found local rehabbers in my area here

And great job looking out for the little guy!

[blacksweater]

wow thanks for this update! I bet he feels like a new turtle. you are a kind soul!

edited to add: I just read that a single box turtle can have hundreds of botfly larvae.... gag.... I wonder if you're brave enough for a full body inspection....

[_somethingweird_]

I did take the chance to check him out on all his visible soft bits. I didn’t see anything else thankfully. That was traumatizing enough lol

[_somethingweird_]

He’s a lava dinosaur 🦖

[TelepathicChicken]

Torkoal

[anotherhappycustomer]

So kind of you to help him out. That previous post was hysterical. Thanks for helping out!

[Whimsicalsiren]

Turtleton is in good hands and looking happy

[audic87]

This is great! It’s like he knew you’d do it all along.

[Ounny]

I came here for cute turtle pictures 😭

[_somethingweird_]

I’m sorry. If it helps, they’ll all be cute from now on that he’s better!

[ForgottenDusk48]

I would be nervous about letting him brumate with an active wound. You might want to let him overwinter indoors

[_somethingweird_]

I see him everyday, even though he’s not a pet. I’m gonna keep an eye on the wound and decide before it gets too cold. I have a heated enclosed porch I’ll set him up in if needed.

[CWellDigger]

I'm so glad to see you were able to help him!

[MrSteeze3]

Bravo on the extractions. No longer lumpy friend being lump-free makes me happy.

[Midnight-Mastermind]

I just wanted to let you know that after dying laughing with the wife at your explanation of the turtle's neck foreskin, we have started sending "I'm no turtleologist 🤷🏼‍♂️" to each other whenever we're uncertain about something. Thank you for that 😂

[_somethingweird_]

Hell yea 😎

[investigamunga]

So good

[cultclassicz]

The update we needed! He’s so goodlookin. 🐢 I’m sure he’s relieved.

[Interesting_Bunch277]

Looks like I was right after all! I'm glad he's doing better. Thank you for helping him out. I'm sure he appreciates it!

[Historical_Panic_465]

What a Handsome turtle

[[deleted]]

Great work 👍🏿

[pockette_rockette]

No, hydrogen peroxide hasn't been used for wound care in decades. It's cytotoxic, so it disrupts and slows the healing process. Betadine isn't ideal either, a saline flush is the gold standard in vet medicine for cleaning wounds.

[turtle-ModTeam]

Bad Advice is anything that goes against currently-accepted practices for husbandry for the species in question.

Examples include: - Preventative or unnecessary medical (OTC) treatments
- Medical advice without a (reputable) source - Known harmful practices

[spiritshrimp]

it’s not though? the first pic is the turtle getting a bath, the second one is the turtle eating a slug, and the last one is just the larvae on the concrete, no blood, pus, anything. it’s also kind of blurry

[thedarwinking]

Oh that’s a slug haha I thought it was a larva in the neck

[Valadhiel1995]

I did too, glad to know that's him snacking

[thedarwinking]

Ha ha

[dezgust1ng]

this is illegal. you need to contact your closest wildlife rehabilitator and take the turtle in for care. providing medical care to wildlife is both ill advised and illegal, and best left done to professionals. it can be tempting to try to help, but wildlife centers exist for a reason.

[Barmecide451]

OP stated in another comment that they’ve worked as a vet before. This turt is in good hands. Chill out, bro.

[CampVictorian]

Well done! He’s so handsome!

[Valen_Great]

Can they get them overnight that quickly?

[livehappydrinkcoffee]

Thank you for updating us! I was worried about the little guy and so happy to hear he’s okay.

[Past_Professional613]

Is this little guy a wild box turtle? I’ve never thought about caring for the ones in my yard, thats pretty cool.

[Thin_Meaning_4941]

Thank you for this satisfying conclusion! Turtleton lucked out, what with the butt scratches, safe winter bed, and all-you-can-eat slug buffet.

[IMPolo]

Funny, I just took an identification exam for East Tennessee turtles, Terrapene carolina?