My Mother was fishing and accidentally hooked a turtle near the eye I need to know how to care for it.?

Question

After she caught it and took the hook out there was still a small part left in the face area near the eye. They took him home and had him for five days. Eventually I presuaded her to let me bring him to the wildlife sanctuary near my home. The problem is that its saturday, and there closed until monday. I'm pretty informed about the rescue resources in my area, and this is the only one i'm comfortable with bringing him to. Right now I have him in a 50 gallon fish take with about 3-4 inches of tap water in the bottom, and three rocks for him to sit on. Please help!!!! Please give as much info as possible.

Answer 1

take it to the vet for it to get an examination and dont listen to logan your mom didnt mean to hook it

Answer 2

Boy, this is a tough one to offer advice on without being able to see the poor thing.  You didn't mention size/age/species.

First off, I would recommend that you just leave the remaining piece of hook alone until you can get the turtle to the rescue facility.

If it is an older turtle, I would say that it won't hurt to let it go without food until you can get it to the rescue facility.  If it's tiny/a hatchling, then you don't want to let it get depleted (they eat often, and daily).

But, since you've already had it five days, and still counting, I'd recommend feeding it.

Keep in mind that turtles tend to tear with their front claws while gripping the food in their beak.  You don't want it to hit the remaining piece of hook under its eye.  I would suggest that you be sure to cut the fish (nightcrawler, whatever you offer it) into very small pieces which it can just snatch in the water and swallow, without having to tear it smaller to eat it.

I would suggest you don't offer crickets though, for the tear/shredding reason I mentioned above.

You should place a light above the tank (ideally an UVB if you have one), for basking/heat.  Make sure the water isn't too cold or warm.

It would probably be better to keep the tank bare/stripped, so the turtle can't hit its face on anything.

There's really not much you can do but try to keep it calm and comfortable, until you can get it where it needs to be on Monday.

I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help, and I sure hope the little guy pulls through his ordeal.

I'm not sure of your experience, but it sounds like you know a bit about water turtles.  I'm posting a few links below, which you might want to browse for feeding ideas.

Good luck!

I hope this has been of help.

Answer 3

take it too a vet

Answer 4

bring it to a vet, its much safer than taking the chance to care for it yourself, they can do it properly rather than you guessing how to care for it

Answer 5

keep care of him until a vet opens up. you can find a pet stores that sellls small fish to feed to the turtle for the time being. here are some sites to help you out:

>http://www.redearslider.com/>

>http://www.turtlesale.com/>

>http://www.turtle-care.com/>

http://www.petturtle.com/care.htm

good luck!

ADAM

Answer 6

If it's a snapping turtle you can feed it fish which will be easy because you caught fish when you were fishing before your mom stabbed it with a hook.

Answer 7

Contact the “herpetologicalsocieties.com“.

for a turtle vet n your city and state