I have been keeping turtles for almost 5 years (as of summer 2006). In addition to my own pets, I also have experience rehabilitating other people’s sick turtles, and I have worked with turtles in a laboratory setting. The species I am most familiar with are those that are found in the Northeastern United States, including the ubiquitous (introduced) red-eared slider. As pets, I have kept red-eared sliders, painted turtles, snapping turtles, and eastern box turtles. I have raised a few hatchlings of all of these species.

My turtle hobby has expanded, mostly accidentally, into goldfish, tetras, and a few other fish species. At this point I am quite smitten with goldfish. I have had two goldfish for about 3 years now, but I never really appreciated them until very recently. Over the last 6 months I have been researching many aspects of fish husbandry and physiology, and I really enjoy learning from experienced fish keepers and in turn teaching others. I hope to get all my turtles outside into ponds someday so I can fill their tanks with goldfish.

I graduated from college 3 years ago with a BA in Neuroscience, and I currently work at a neuroanatomy lab as an electron microscopist. I love microscopes, and am familiar with many histology techniques. As well as my expertise with the transmission electron microscope, I am also quite handy with confocal and light microscopes.

In addition to working full time, I am also taking classes to fulfill veterinary school prerequisets. If everything goes as planned, I will matriculate in 2007. I am inexplicably drawn to turtles and I feel it is my calling to look out for their well-being on this planet. I hope with a DVM I will be able to help turtles through research into their health and disease and by directly treating them. While turtles are “my thing,” I also have special places in my heart for the other creep crawly guys: snakes, frogs, toads, and salamanders.

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