This makes it easy to drain and clean raceways and the turtle containers. Several raceways are shown with milk crates containing individual sea turtles. Plastic sheets have been draped around the edge of the building and from the ceiling to insulate the turtle barn from extreme temperatures in the summer and winter. A shrimp trawl is seen hanging above the raceways in this photo. Sea turtles are fed trout chow during their stay at the Galveston Head-Start Facility.
Hatchlings know when it is feeding time.
A high-pressure water hose is used to remove algae buildup inside of the raceways and on the inner surfaces of the milk crates, or other holding containers. All holding containers had hard mesh bottoms through which fecal material and uneaten food could fall to the bottom of the raceway for easy cleanup. Kemp's ridley hatchlings are measured the first week they arrive, and every 28 days thereafter. Growth rates of hatchlings help assess their health and gives us an idea on the variability of sea turtle growth in the natural environment. Kemp's ridley hatchling two months old.