Box turtle tail

Question
Hi i noticed my 3 toe box turtle has a large mass in its tail area, i can see the tail behind the mass but just barely.  She is about 5yrs old an the mass is about the size of a peanut m&m. There is a food and water dish in the tank and the substrate is the coconut brick .

Answer
Hi Sain,

You need to take your box turtle to a vet.  The mass is probably an abscess, and it will need to be lanced and cleaned, and the turtle put on a course of antibiotics, so it's not something you can treat at home.

If at all possible, you should build an outdoor enclosure for your turtle.  Box turtles do much better outside, and a tank really isn't appropriate for them unless it is very large (at least 100 gallons).  A nice planted outdoor enclosure allows them to enjoy natural sunlight and do some foraging for snails, slugs, worms, etc.  They are able to hibernate outdoors very well if given an area of soft earth to dig into and then covered with leaf litter, straw, etc. (make sure it's not an area where water can collect).  

If kept indoors, a box turtle needs a large (at least 5 x 3 ft.), airy enclosure.  Substrate can be a mix of coir and playsand, but should be kept fairly damp to keep the humidity up.  Being kept too dry can cause significant health problems.  They also need a basking spot and a source of UVB for 12-14 hours a day.  Diet should be varied, and include animal matter, greens, fruits, and veggies.  The more variety in diet, the better for the turtle.

If you can post a picture of the mass, I can take a look and see what it could be, but since it came on suddenly the most likely cause is an abscess.