Just caught a box turtle while biking in the woods!

[mudkeeper]

I brought it home since it seem to have some weird growth on the side of its head. I think its a ear abscess. Does anybody know how to treat it! I would like to return (her I think) into the wild. She is only 3 inches.

 

[dzb912]

your better of returning it
or just keeping it
but theyres a anti biotic for reptiles
not sure what its called but i no theyres alot of types

 

[rmorse]

Any pics?

 

[Vicious_Fish]

There really isn't much you can do yourself to treat it. But it isn't uncommon for wild box turtles to get ear abscesses. The turtle would have to be taken to a vet to have it lanced open and drained. Also I see you're from NJ and I don't think you can keep any species of wild turtle there as a pet. Better to just release it back where you found it.

 

[mudkeeper]

here some pics, the abcesses are on both sides.

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

So cute!!!

 

[mudkeeper]

There really isn't much you can do yourself to treat it. But it isn't uncommon for wild box turtles to get ear abscesses. The turtle would have to be taken to a vet to have it lanced open and drained. Also I see you're from NJ and I don't think you can keep any species of wild turtle there as a pet. Better to just release it back where you found it.

lol, we are allowed to keep turtles, but pet stores arent allowed to selll them, a lot of people in NJ keep turtles legally and illegally. If i released him, it will die, but I already took care of it, contacted a turtle rehabilitator, but now I have to get it to Mercer County.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Well if you're going to keep it feed the turtle plenty of items with vitamin A. The lack of that vitamin is one of the main causes of ear abscesses in Terapene carolina. Feed items like grated yellow squash, carrots and yellow/orange peppers. Sometimes turtles refuse to eat because of the pain of opening their jaws with abscesses.

 

[mudkeeper]

I would like to keep the turtle, but most likely it will be released back in the wild, if it recupperates well. They asked for the location where i found it so they can release it back. Sadly, the whole wooded area is planned to be developed into 2,500 houses. There is a good box turtle population there too. Makes me sad.