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A few months ago, a racoon uncovered (tracks and eaten eggs) a snapping turtle nest near my home. I rescued the eggs and incubated them. They have finally hatched.

So far, I have had 18 hatch. 11 were released on the weekend back into the wild (where I found the nest). 1 died today after hatching. He or she had a tumour on it's belly. Another, I dont know what to do with. His shell is grossly deformed but he seems to be doing okay. I may send him out to the wild but i dont know if he/she will survive so I will feel guilty!

Congrats on the hatchings. A turtle, especially one as young as your snapper, with a deformity has less of a chance of making it (survival of the fittest). Is the deformity one that can right itself to any extent with time? I have an eastern painted preemie who hatched without a complete shell like the others, and with time and proper conditions (he's still with me), he's grown and looks great. I don't know if he was as bad as you're indicating yours is, though.

A tomour on his belly? That could be his yolk sac...

Maybe it is his yolk sack. I just never saw it on the other turtles. As far as the deformed turtle, his shell is very deformed. IT has a bit of a U shape.

I am very tired. I just read the title of my post. That is sleep deprivation for you!

Check with your vet or animal control people, I'll bet there is a rescue group nearby that can help. You did the right thing rescuing and releasing those babies. My numbers may be off a bit, but I believe only 1 or 2 in a hundred snappers make it to adulthood in the wild. For terrapins it even less.

Gokuh wrote:I am very tired. I just read the title of my post. That is sleep deprivation for you!

I actually thought it fit the post quite nicely, "my snapping turtle eggs snapped". It was a cute way to describe the hatching eggs. Great job helping them out. Feel good about what you've done for them.