Albino baby turtle born with its heart OUTSIDE its body has survived (despite having a condition so rare vets have yet to give it a name)
The tiny reptile, known as Hope, has such a rare condition that the condition has not yet been named in veterinary science. She is albino and has her heart outside the correct cavity (pictured)
Owner Mike Aquilina – known as AquaMike on Instagram – looks after the Albino Pinkbelly Sideneck at his home in New Jersey.
The rare heart defect is unknown in the species of Pinkbelly Sideneck but a similar condition in humans is dubbed ectopia cordis and affects about one in 126,000 births
Hope’s guardian has no guidance to follow when looking after the unique animal, so says he uses a ‘common-sense’ and provides extra care. But unfortunately for Hope, this means that she has to be kept separate from the other turtles for the foreseeable future
Mr Aquilina added: ‘I keep her water extra clean, give her a basking area that is as soft as possible and handle her as little as possible.
Owner Mike Aquilina – known as AquaMike on Instagram – looks after the Albino Pinkbelly Sideneck at his home in New Jersey. Mr Aquilina, 29, said: ‘Hope has impacted my life in so many ways it actually makes me emotional’
All of Hope’s food and medical supplies are supplied by ZooMed Laboratories, which leaves the tiny turtle free to bask and eat to her heart’s content. Currently there are no plans for surgery to correct her deformity