Box turtle with feeding tube eating a strawberry

This is an eastern box turtle with a pharyngostomy tube. A pharyngostomy tube is inserted by an experienced veterinarian while the turlte is under anesthesia. It's used when a turtle is unable to eat due to an extended illness or injury, such as when the jaw is broken if the turtle has been hit by a car. A liquid slurry (food) is added via a syringe at the broad end of the tube (where the white cap is located), and the tube extends into the stomach. It's much easier and less stressful than trying to force feed a turtle. When the turtle is well enough to eat on his own, he can eat if he wants to even if the tube is still there, as in this video. The tube will be removed during an office visit at the vet clinic. To learn more about box turtles, visit http://www.boxturtlesite.info/ and http://www.matts-turtles.org/docs/Box-Turtle-Diet.pdf

This is El Guapo - he came in very sick, but he's recovered and is about to be adopted! There are other box turtles for adoption at www.matts.petfinder.com

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• box
• turtle
• pharyngostomy

[reym205]

i have 13 turtles so they dont get lonely... imma get another one so that everone of them has a best friend... they have there own room in my house so they should be good.... its the biggest room heated and cooled theres a buit in pool in the floor its grassy with some trees and theres a sliding door that leads to the deck thats closed off for them... theres grass growing in the room and theres a glass roof that closes up

[beautifuljoe1313]

@reym205 Turtles don't need a "friend". In fact, many will fight or harrass other turtles. If you get too many turtles in one area, or the wrong ratio of males to females, you can end up with sick turtles. Your turtle room sounds lovely, but watch those gender ratios. Also, every time you add a turtle to your group, you risk the over all health of the group.

[beautifuljoe1313]

El Guapo is going to be adopted next week!

There are other box turtles for adoption on Petfinder.

[thatrubberducky26]

thats so sad o have two turtles

[cyraxsektor]

poor lil guy! hope he gets better!

[bowcowest]

AS AM I

[Sakura69ABC]

NICE! glad he is doing well. :)