the term Myiasis is infection with a fly larva, usually occurring in tropical and subtropical areas. The flies will deposit their eggs on the skin and will hatch and begin to feed on living tissue of another animal. In that case you would not necessarily have seen a visible wound; till these larvae begin eating the flesh. A more common form of fly larvae would be attracted to the infection of an injury. Possible abscess that ruptured. In either case I suggest you follow the advise given above about cleaning the affected area; and using an antibiotic cream. Keep it out of any kind of dirt or substrate material until healing has progressed some. This is one time that use of paper towels would be ok.Then totally change out the enclosure area; substrate(burn or destroy) and anything in it. Wiping it down structure with a mild bleach solution; airing out in sunlight. Any photos of the maggots? Also recommend you use the recommended vet list here on this site for your area; and find one that has more experience with reptiles. This is not a lost cause case.myiasis was the term the vet gave
One of the most commonly seen cases of myiasis is not necessarily in the tropics but here with the bot fly. So common with aquatic turtles that develop that bump in the neck. My issue is the diagnosis. There are myiatic and non myiatic flies. A myiatic fly lays its eggs in healthy tissue under the skin. The developing larva (maggot) will feed on healthy tissue and create an abscess A non myiatic fly will lay multiple eggs on rotting/decomposing organic matter. Not on healthy flesh. So a lot of maggots suddenly appearing indicates a wound or diseased tissue there before the maggots. So the cause of that would be important.the term Myiasis is infection with a fly larva, usually occurring in tropical and subtropical areas. The flies will deposit their eggs on the skin and will hatch and begin to feed on living tissue of another animal. In that case you would not necessarily have seen a visible wound; till these larvae begin eating the flesh. A more common form of fly larvae would be attracted to the infection of an injury. Possible abscess that ruptured. In either case I suggest you follow the advise given above about cleaning the affected area; and using an antibiotic cream. Keep it out of any kind of dirt or substrate material until healing has progressed some. This is one time that use of paper towels would be ok.Then totally change out the enclosure area; substrate(burn or destroy) and anything in it. Wiping it down structure with a mild bleach solution; airing out in sunlight. Any photos of the maggots? Also recommend you use the recommended vet list here on this site for your area; and find one that has more experience with reptiles. This is not a lost cause case.
not sure about central California; but I do believe that southern CA is considered sub tropical which falls in the area of myiasis. Not sure of location of original poster; but it would help to know.One of the most commonly seen cases of myiasis is not necessarily in the tropics but here with the bot fly. So common with aquatic turtles that develop that bump in the neck. My issue is the diagnosis. There are myiatic and non myiatic flies. A myiatic fly lays its eggs in healthy tissue under the skin. The developing larva (maggot) will feed on healthy tissue and create an abscess A non myiatic fly will lay multiple eggs on rotting/decomposing organic matter. Not on healthy flesh. So a lot of maggots suddenly appearing indicates a wound or diseased tissue there before the maggots. So the cause of that would be important.