Rescue Alligator Snapping Turtle

Reptscue · #1 (**permalink**) 10-31-2003, 03:28 AM

He was my roommate's pet from a hatchling.(my rrommate is moving away so the turtle stays) The ally weighs in at 11.5 pounds.
(a lttle underweight I think)

He was kept in a large out side tank with a divider and a common snapper on the other side. His tail must have slipped under and the common thought it looked tastly. I had to get about 4 inches of his tail amputated.

poor guy

He will need a home in about a month or so.
Keep a look out in the adoptions forum for the update.

Thanks for looking!

suzi · #2 (**permalink**) 10-31-2003, 04:15 AM

Talk about a face only a mother could love...

Reptscue · #3 (**permalink**) 10-31-2003, 04:22 AM

for sure!

toker · #4 (**permalink**) 10-31-2003, 03:52 PM

wish you the best of luck, keep us posted

Reptscue · #5 (**permalink**) 11-02-2003, 02:21 AM

I did notice something about this guy......
He has these small (1/4 inch), red worm-like creatures in the algae on his back, they look to be feeding on it. They don't seem to be bothering the turtle.
I wish I had a good camera to get a macro. Sorry. Hope to change soon.
He has had to stay out of the water for the last couple days, so I hope they die. Should I give him a good scrub down? What can I use?
Oh and he has a name now....Louie....for his leuer tounge.

Constrictor_BO · #6 (**permalink**) 11-04-2003, 08:59 AM

I would contact a vet to see what they would recommend. Usually if ya just call they shouldnt charge just to give advise. I never came across this so I cant give ya any other advise other than place a call to see if there is anything special to use will help.

Although if it is out of the water.... a good coat of antibiotic ointment might cause some suffocation of the creatures.... without air, nothing can survive for long. and being out of the water for a few more days will not hurt the turtle.

Reptscue · #7 (**permalink**) 11-05-2003, 01:20 AM

Thank you, Constrictor_BO!
I did talk to the vet.(my boss) He's the one who told me that they are non-parasitic. It does look like they all died while the turtle was kept out of the water. So all is well. I got to take the bandage off of his tail and it looks good.
One thing... My ex-roommate wanted me to let him go after everything is well...
I don't think that it's a good idea due to the fact he was CB and is about 8yrs old.
What do you all think?

Thanks in advance!

LdyDrgn · #8 (**permalink**) 11-05-2003, 01:30 AM

Anything CB and kept in captivity for a while should not be released into the wild. If the animal has picked up any bacteria from being in a collection there is no telling what it might do to the wild population. Not to mention that the turtle may not know how to live in the wild.... No, letting it go would only be cruel.

Reptscue · #9 (**permalink**) 11-05-2003, 01:34 AM

That is what I thought also.....thank you LD!

savannah_babe · #10 (**permalink**) 11-05-2003, 07:20 PM

good luck with him kimmie. atleast hes doing better for ya

Reptscue · #11 (**permalink**) 11-06-2003, 01:59 AM

Thank you!
He is doing better. He's getting meaner everyday.

savannah_babe · #12 (**permalink**) 11-06-2003, 01:22 PM

lol, then you know hes getting better :P

toker · #13 (**permalink**) 11-06-2003, 04:24 PM

them buggers are mean... every time I went near one as a kid it would hiss and snap at me.

Reptscue · #14 (**permalink**) 12-07-2003, 04:49 AM

Just a little update.....
After I had taken his stitches out his tail was just a little open. So, he was put on Amikacin.
But I had called the local nature center and they said that they would love to have him. They only had two commons and no alligator. So Louie was sent to stay with them. He lives in a man made pond.
I just hope that he will be happy and well cared for.

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