Wild box turtle missing half its shell / injury

[Moozillion]

I've seen photos of a large tortoise that lost most of its carapace to injuries from a forest fire- it looked a lot like this. The tort survived, and the vets who treated it made it a new carapace with a 3-D printer! It's amazing to see what these animals can survive. I'll see if I can find that photo...

 

[Moozillion]

This YouTube video shows a tortoise with a missing carapace who recovered with a 3D printed shell!

 

[Relic]

My guess would be a lawn-mower injury. Turtle hidden in tall grass, glancing blow of a mower blade to one side. Carapace damaged and eventually sloughed-off. Turtle recovers with damaged, but healed, body. But then again, I once guessed my wife would appreciated a new hubcap for the damaged one on her Honda Accord for our 25th Anniversary many years ago, and I was sadly mistaken...

 

[Maggie3fan]

@maggie3fan I know you keep box turtles... Have you seen any injuries like this one?

To me it looks like a burn from long ago. But Y or somebody else needs to look at this to me it needs an experienced exotic Vet.

 

[Hutsie B]

I have found a boxie with missing shell and took it to the vet. The vet replaced the shell with a material I don't remember what, but I would suggest a vet look at it to see if something can be done as soon as possible.

 

[jUMPSu1t]

Hey, if you can send me a marked up picture of the tortoise’s shell with measured lengths of all the outside edges as well as an estimated radius of curvature, we could actually build that tortoise a plastic shell cover to keep it safe. All we would need is a way to send STL files and a 3D printer at your location!

 

[iAmCentrochelys sulcata]

Hey, if you can send me a marked up picture of the tortoise’s shell with measured lengths of all the outside edges as well as an estimated radius of curvature, we could actually build that tortoise a plastic shell cover to keep it safe. All we would need is a way to send STL files and a 3D printer at your location!

That’s a really good idea. But isn’t a expensive?
(The printer)

 

[ZEROPILOT]

This has become a very interesting and informative post

 

[shellcior]

That poor thing deserves to be spoiled the rest of it's life. Poor thing!!!! What an amazing animal to make it through that. I've seen a turtle found after being hit by a car and one that was hit by a mower but this is even worse!

 

[jUMPSu1t]

That’s a really good idea. But isn’t a expensive?
(The printer)

Yeah, the printer will be expensive, but I know some services (Xometry is a good example) that will print STLs for you and ship them. The cost is high, but we’d be potentially saving the tortoise’s life, and I think that’s payment in itself!

 

[Yvonne G]

That’s a really good idea. But isn’t a expensive?
(The printer)

It's actually not really a good idea. The turtle has grown a new shell and is not in need of an artificial shell.

 

[Pastel Tortie]

@Makaylaiori Any update on the turtle? Did you have any luck contacting the nearby(-ish) veterinarians on the ARAV list?

 

[Yvonne G]

@Makaylaiori Any update on the turtle? Did you have any luck contacting the nearby(-ish) veterinarians on the ARAV list?

In my opinion it would be a waste of money to take that turtle to a vet. There's nothing to be done about it. The injury is old and healed, and new shell has grown to cover the turtle.

 

[jUMPSu1t]

In my opinion it would be a waste of money to take that turtle to a vet. There's nothing to be done about it. The injury is old and healed, and new shell has grown to cover the turtle.

You’re right. Keep the tortoise safe and well-fed, and it should grow back eventually. I think the 3D shell thing should only be for tortoises who don’t look like they’ll grow their shell back very quickly.

 

[Maggie3fan]

That’s a really good idea. But isn’t a expensive?
(The printer)

Also, if there is any inflammation or infection and you silicone all that open part in, you run the risk of sealing that infection in and causing abscess or even death. just sayin

 

[jUMPSu1t]

Also, if there is any inflammation or infection and you silicone all that open part in, you run the risk of sealing that infection in and causing abscess or even death. just sayin

Yeah, I didn’t even think about that! Although theoretically it’s possible to perforate the artificial shell to allow the flesh underneath to breathe while still being protected, much like a band-aid.

 

[1wildtiger]

It doesn’t look very fresh. There isn’t any blood and the turtle was energetic and pretty thirsty. There is a small spot that does look a little.. meaty? Almost like a lesion. There are also two seemingly old tooth holes on the intact side of the shell.

Maybe an over zealous raccoon got his paws (and teeth) on it. It may have been hit and injured and an animal came along and started to tear parts of his shell off. Whatever happened, that sweet baby is a fighter!!

 

[Makaylaiori]

Thank you all for the kind words, advice, and knowledge. I never imagined anyone would see this thread, let alone engage with myself and each other. It was a long day at work but as soon as I got home my husband and I went to the hardware store and bought a big stock tank tub, added some dirt, water, worms, and a couple fruits/vegetables. I know it’s not an ideal set up but it will have to do until this weekend. It was voracious for worms, didn’t really care about the fruits/veg. It also spent a few minutes submerged in a shallow bowl of water. It has been very active and hungry which really gives me hope! Thank you all. I will continue to update and engage as much as possible.

 

[Gijoux]

This YouTube video shows a tortoise with a missing carapace who recovered with a 3D printed shell!

Amazing!!

 

[Terrapin 3]

I personally think you should just bandage it and add calcium to its food until you notice a change. Otherwise, I'd take it to a vet.