A turtle vet who comes to the tank or the enclosure.
Turtles and tortoises are hard to evaluate away from the water and the basking setup they actually live in. Dr. Benjamin Lewis makes house calls for chelonians across Greater Houston, primarily after hours. A standard sick-turtle home visit is $375 prepaid in the Houston area and includes travel in the usual area. Add-ons are listed on the pricing page. Call or text (832) 987-3469, or email support@scalefinveterinary.com.
Why a house call is the point for turtles
Moving a slider or a sulcata is often the risk. Water quality, basking, and diet live where the animal lives.
Transport is the hard part
Chelonians are among the best reasons to have a vet come to you. A clinic carrier trip changes temperature, water access, and stress before the exam starts.
The enclosure is part of the exam
Water chemistry for aquatics, basking and UV for terrestrials, diet, and how the enclosure is actually run get checked in place. With chelonians those are rarely separate from the animal.
Primarily after hours
Visits are appointment-based and run primarily after hours — not a 24-hour emergency hospital. If an animal is declining, call or text and you get a straight answer on the fastest option.
What a turtle house call costs
A virtual sick-animal visit is $195. Without an in-person exam first, a virtual visit cannot include a prescription. A standard sick-turtle or enclosure evaluation is $375 prepaid in the Houston area. Travel outside Houston is $25–$100. Add-ons are on the pricing page. Email support@scalefinveterinary.com or call (832) 987-3469.
Sister pharmacy, separate job
When a veterinarian writes a compounded prescription for a turtle or tortoise, that fill is handled by sister pharmacy OmniPetRx exotic-pet compounding. Compounding claims stay on omnipetrx.com. Scale & Fin is the house-call exam.
How a turtle visit works
Tell us the species and the setup
Use the booking form, or call or text with the species and what you are seeing. A photo of the animal and the tank or enclosure speeds this up.
You get the quote first
The $375 prepaid sick-turtle visit includes travel in the Houston area. Travel outside Houston is $25–$100. Anything extra is quoted before we do it — no surprises at the door.
Exam at the enclosure
Dr. Lewis examines the animal, reviews the enclosure, and leaves you with a written plan and next steps.
Your turtle vet: Dr. Benjamin Lewis
Dr. Lewis earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 2023 and a Master of Science in marine ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Houston in 2017. He treats reptiles, amphibians, and fish — and nothing else. Turtles sit in that chelonian overlap: reptile medicine plus water and husbandry that actually get checked.
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota 2023 · Master of Science, University of Houston 2017 · Texas license #20017Turtle house-call questions
Do you make house calls for turtles in Houston?
Yes. Turtles and tortoises are seen at home across Greater Houston, primarily after hours. Travel beyond Greater Houston is quoted before anything is scheduled.
What does a turtle house-call exam cost?
A virtual sick-animal visit is $195. A standard sick-turtle home visit is $375 prepaid in the Houston area and includes travel in the usual area, one animal, enclosure review, and a written plan. Add-ons are on the pricing page. Call or text (832) 987-3469.
Can you prescribe from a virtual visit?
Not on a first virtual visit. Texas Occupations Code §801.351 and Board Rule 573.68: a veterinarian-client-patient relationship cannot be established by telephone or video. Without an in-person exam first, we cannot prescribe. After that exam, a virtual recheck can.
Is this a 24-hour turtle vet?
No. Scale & Fin is an appointment-based house-call practice, not a 24-hour emergency hospital, and visits run primarily after hours.
Which turtles and tortoises do you see?
Sliders, box turtles, map turtles, and common pet tortoises (Russian, sulcata, leopard). Aquatic and terrestrial. A photo of the animal and the enclosure speeds the booking.
Do you fill compounded turtle medications?
Compounded prescriptions, when your veterinarian writes one, are filled by sister pharmacy OmniPetRx. Compounding claims stay on omnipetrx.com. Scale & Fin is the house-call exam.
Something wrong with your turtle?
Send a photo and a short description. You will get a straight answer on whether it needs a visit.