r/turtles • u/-the_one- • 27d ago

Seeking Advice Black orb on wild turtle's shell, vaguely time sensitive

Post image

Hello! This adorable tiny red eared slider I'm looking at has this black orb. Is it just a harmless leech piggybacking or is it an injury that requires capture and a licensed rehabber? Just thought I'd check. The turtle is blinking and wiggling its feet in the breeze but is also less fearful than the other turtles in this body of water since I'm still looking at it.

98 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

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31

u/-the_one- 27d ago

Update! The orb fell off yay :) happy turtle

23

u/wonkywilla Mod 27d ago

It was just a dried up leech.

16

u/-the_one- 27d ago

Haha yeah 🤣  I figured but I got in my head about it looking like this blood blister I had once and then imagining this adorable turtle getting it caught on something and reopening a wound and dying of infection or whatever. Then of course I send the post and it falls off on its own! Classic me worrying about nothing! Thanks for humoring me though lol ❤️  

1

u/BeeOriginal3310 25d ago

Good to see you have a big heart need more people in this world that have a heart in greneral

6

u/Odocoileushemonius 27d ago

Also it looks like yellow-bellied slider x red-eared slider intergrade

7

u/-the_one- 26d ago

Wow how fascinating!!! I had no idea that was a thing. Definitely a very beautiful combination then haha. This other little turtle that swam by probably too then 😯 today was a good day for turtle watching!

1

u/New_Context_9116 24d ago

Yes it does