How to Remove Fly Eggs From a Box Turtle

Flesh flies sometimes lay eggs on box turtles.

Wounded box turtles are sometimes victims of flies that lay their eggs on the turtle. The eggs hatch into maggots, which burrow into the turtle's wound and devour its flesh. Even a healthy box turtle can be a victim of parasites if the flies are attracted to rotting food in its cage. If you notice flies or fly eggs on your turtle, remove them immediately. Keep the turtle's cage clean, and treat any wounds as soon as you notice them.

Things You'll Need

• Tweezers
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton swabs
• Antibiotic ointment

Instructions

1. Remove the fly eggs by picking them off with tweezers. The eggs look like small ovals.

2. Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and apply it to the site where the fly eggs were laid.

3. Apply antibiotic ointment to the egg-laying site, as well as any other wounds you might notice.

4. Remove anything from the cage that may be attracting insects.

5. Hang a pest strip inside the cage to deter insects from returning. Make sure you hang it out of reach of the turtle so that it doesn't try to eat the pest strip.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove any uneaten food from a turtle's cage after an hour or so. Rotting food attracts flies, which then lay eggs on the turtle.

• If you see maggots under the skin, don't try to remove them. Contact your reptile vet for advice on treatment. The wound may need to be cleaned surgically, and the turtle may require antibiotics.

References

• Anapsid.org: "Health Care for Box Turtles"
• "The Guide to Owning a Box Turtle"; Jordan Patterson; 1994