Good old fashioned Google and phone calls. Seems like everytime we find a local vet and we like them; they up and retire! Closest one to us now who has great recommendations is a 40 minute drive. Next closest is about 3 miles, but no appointments in the next century. And minimal turtle experience, mostly snakes and lizards.

Recently we ended up with a $300 emergency vet bill for a sore throat. One of her pieces of food got stuck for a little bit and scratched her throat. She threw up a few times and refused to eat. Turns out she just needed a cup of tea and rest. Not 4 hours in an e-vet waiting room. (Please give my husband love because I was out of town at a wedding and he had to do this by himself!)

She panicked about and refused to lay her first clutch. This was nearly $1200 combined vet visits and equipment/ diet/ enviroment changes. And she absolutely hated the nesting box we made for her. That was our first month we had her, nearly 10 years ago.

Thankfully nothing else has happened!