Turtle in care

[mysnakesau]

I picked up a long-neck turtle today with a broken shell. It is broken on the underside, zigzaging from near his front foot, travelling past his back leg towards the tail. I gained some advice and picked up a roll of special tape that I was told to use to re-join his shell. I gave him a bath in iodine and then when he looked dry I did my best to manipulate his shell back in the right spot and taped it up, then taped his whole shell to help keep it all in place. I learnt at our training that with turtles we can tape up their shells and release them. This tape keeps them in tact to help their shell heal and in time dissolves away. But he has another chip out of the edge of his shell which has a raw wound so will keep him in to watch that.

I have a plastic container of water, with rocks so he can get up out of the water, but I only give him little swims so he can poop. So far he hasn't eaten but I've only had him a day. But I am keeping in in a plastic tub (dry) with a water dish with a hole in it just big enough so he can stick his head through to drink, so he don't get wet, just to see how the tape holds, thats all. I haven't had a turtle with broken shell B4 so have been reaping some great advice and he is doing well.

He is probably fine for release but our river is rather swollen and dirty at the moment so will wait for some good weather for him. He is very alert, never hiding. Such gorgeous little nose, he is cute.

 

[pythons73]

Awesome job patching the turtle up,fibreglass or resin is another option ive seen ppl on tele using at Seaworld,just a thought.

 

[ryanharvey1993]

great work kathy, we have only had one turtle with FAWNA was in very bad condition and had to be euthenased. I love turtles always looks like there smiling :lol: they smell though... and scratch.... and pee everywhere.... :lol: thanks.

 

[mysnakesau]

This little bloke is being well behaved Ryan. He is alert and ran across my floor with ease. But when I pop him in the water for a swim he wants out. I dry dock him most of the time, just pop him back in water for wee and try and get him eating.

 

[redbellybite]

besides the iodine what else you putting on that open wound Kath?

 

[mark83]

good on you for looking after it