Meet Skittles

the story

About Skittles

Skittles was found entangled in fishing line & crab trap debris, wrapped tightly around a dock piling in Palm Beach County. Upon rescue, it was discovered that this juvenile green sea turtle is also affected by fibropapillomatosis (FP), a disease linked to a virus and environmental stressors such as poor water quality. This condition causes tumor growth on the eyes, flippers, and other soft tissues, often impairing a turtle’s ability to see, swim, and forage. Fortunately, Skittles was rescued by the nonprofit Sea Turtle Adventures and brought to our hospital for rehabilitation and surgical tumor removal. Skittles was expected to spend several months under our care receiving medical treatment, supportive therapy, and surgery.

Rescue

Skittles was found with large Fibropapillomatosis (FP) tumors that hindered swimming, foraging, and vision. Fishing line had wrapped around the tumors and become entangled on wire fencing and other debris, creating a sort of sea anchor.

Diagnose

The large FP tumors were affecting Skittles’s sight and swimming ability due to their size and location. Radiographs showed no evidence of ingested fishing line.

Care

The FP tumors were surgically removed in stages over time once Skittles was stabilized. The entangled fishing line did not cause permanent injury.

Fun Fact

Skittles’s preferred to eat capelin while in the hospital, but requested it to be cut into small bite-size pieces.