Microchips in young terrapins

Our river terrapins hatched in 2009 were microchipped in December of the same year. This means they were 6-8 months of age at that time and the youngest terrapins we have microchipped. It was an experiment of sorts as we have always felt uncomfortable about microchipping them at too young an age.

The first subsequent measurement of the terrapins was made in early February 2010 and we discovered that one of them had ejected the microchip. A bit of concern at that time, but still nothing to worry about as ejection rate was just 1%.

On the 3rd of March, we measured the terrapins again and to our dismay, we were unable to detect the microchips in eight of the terrapins. A closer examination of all the terrapins showed that five of them had the microchips partially ejected from the inguinal pocket. Ejection rate had gone up to 14% two and a half months after they were deployed. This is conclusive enough to tell us not to microchip terrapins at too young an age.

The picture below show the microchips at various stages of ejection from the young terrapins. The microchips are implanted at the inguinal pocket.

Ejection of microchip 1

Ejection of microchip 2

Ejection of microchip 3