Photo Gallery :: 2 headed hatchling

[JessicaTS]

Thank goodnes snakeneck turtles have fat tongues, width of their head

[marisa]

I feel depressed when I see pics of poor turtles like that.

[JessicaTS]

I know someone breeders that purposely breed the parents of a two headed, in hope they might get another two headed. Most of them being res. Then sell them for a ridiculous price.
Also, other breeders breed the parent turtles that both have recessive traits genes and the babies are born without eyes.

[jenaero]

Yeah, it's pretty sickening what some people will do for the almighty dollar.

[tutlehaven]

that is just plain cuel.

[justify_yourlove]

I actually think the two headed turtlets when they are babies...are really cute!

[JessicaTS]

They are cute, but its just sad to know that they had to be born that way

[Mandy]

do they grow up to be healthy as adults? and do both heads want to eat? and can one head get a sinus infection, and the other one be healthy? I've just never heard of this kind of thing before and I'm very interested.

[JessicaTS]

Most two headed turtles (or any other disformed turtles) tend to have a shorter lifespan but I have seen these turtles live a full life. Both heads will want to eat but they only have one stomach, so feeding only one head is okay.
Sinus infection?
If one head gets a burn or a cut on the neck or the face, the bacteria can conflict with the other head.

[cam722]

I'd think the physiology of it would be that they have separate heads but share all other body organs so any infection would affect both.

[tinyslider]

Very interesting. I feel sad for the little creatures that are born that way.

[butterfly]

Its interesting to see but I dont even think the turtles notice they have two heads, I mean, Im sure they think they are perfectly normal as is.

If the owner takes care of them properly, then they will live normal lives and always have company. Two heads are better than one...right?

[JessicaTS]

In this case, two heads are not better than one. Keeping these alive require more than caring for two developed turtles. No matter how advanced and experimented these care takers are, many fail to keep them healthy and alive.
I know some two headed turts that live up to adulthood but I think this has to do with the embryo itself. How the embryo was growing inside the egg has alot to do with how old they are going to grow, in two headed cases. The worse condition, the more chance this one won't live as long as hoped.

[marisa]

I would think that having two heads, the likelihood of have other abnormalities/defects (visible and not visible) would be greater, and as the turtle grows such defects would eventually lead to a shorter lifespan.