Need morale boost – Should I just give up?
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Over the last 10+ years I’ve raised 2 hatchling DBT females to adult size. I lived on the south shore of Long Island, NY as a kid and they just appeared on my patio. The first was taken by a raccoon at the end of her first summer living outside, at 4 yrs old. The second is 7.5 yrs and currently ravaged by some kind of infection. The reptile vet I went to just told me she might have kidney failure since her forelimbs are swollen. I’d gone to a regular vet who listed an “interest” in reptile medicine who gave me amikacin shots but didn’t tell me I had to keep her well hydrated and in the water…. I thought it was a good idea to dry dock turtles with skin infections…. The reptile vet seems pessimistic about her likelihood of survival if indeed it is a kidney failure. Thinking about my failures, I wonder if it’s really possible at all to give these animals a healthy life of normal lifespan. How often does a DBT in captivity ever reach the 30-40yr mark? I feel like so awful, like I’ve killed these poor turtles! I don’t want to acquire any new terrapins if they aren’t really going to make it to 30-40yrs. It seems mean. If captive DBTs don’t usually live normal lives, is there anything I can do to try helping fish market DBTs temporarily? Do people rescue them from the markets, keep them for a season and let them go in the summer? Do the markets in NYC sell DBTs for food?
I’m sorry your terrapin is not doing well. I wish you the best of luck. I don’t know much about captive rearing so I can’t answer the question about how often they live to 30-40. However, in relation to helping fish market terrapins, I would advise against it. I would not rescue these terrapins (unless of course you can rescue them by convincing the harvester to give them to you without pay). By making purchases of terrapins at fish markets you would be “feeding” the market. This will cause harvesters to catch greater numbers. The best way to stop the market is to starve it. Also, not knowing the health of these terrapins, or which estuary they came from, you could end up harming the terrapins already in the population where you would release them. Your best way to help these terrapins is to find a local conservation group that helps with the protection of the species by doing things such as putting up road crossing signs and giving out turtle excluders to local crabbers.
Laura, considering the number of hatchlings that don’t make it to adulthood in the wild, I can’t help but think that you’re doing more good than harm. Who knows how long Turdie would have lived to if it weren’t for the raccoon attack. I have worked with terps for only 13 years or so and lost my first group to raccoons as well. Consequently, my oldest one is probably about the same age as yours. However, Steve (bluehonu) had one that lived for 30 years in captivity. His is not the only case. Incidentally, Steve is from New York as well and does a lot of rehab work with turtles. I hope yours makes it though I question the prescription of amikacin for kidney problems. All the best. -Stephen C — In diamondbackterrapins@yahoogroups.com, “yipla”
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