The fish tank holds seven. Turtles sick with contagious tumors have been crowded together, as many as five to a tub instead of the usual two. Normally, the aquarium hosts 20 to 25 turtles. Caregivers work seven days a week. Frozen squid and fish go fast.
Medicine goes even faster.
It impacts the animals who live there. And that includes the turtles. The aquarium is one of about 10 facilities in the state that care for sick or injured turtles. Scientists tend to the animals and release those that recover into the gulf. They keep the ones that can't make it in the wild.