# What are the 'sandbags' on a turtle

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-sandbags-on-a-turtle/920083>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 8, 2020, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-sandbags-on-a-turtle/920083 "2020-09-08T05:46:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2020, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-sandbags-on-a-turtle/920083/1 "2020-09-08T05:46:09Z")

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I’ve read recipes for cooking turtle and some mention ‘removing the sandbags’ when cleaning  
Note: [Historic and Unusual Recipes…Just for fun !!! —- How to Cook a Terrapin (or Turtle)](https://myyellowfarmhouse.com/2013/02/26/historic-and-unusual-recipes-just-for-fun-how-to-cook-a-terrapin/)  
and  
[Chowhound](https://www.chowhound.com/post/cooking-turtle-294457)

WHat, anatomically, are the sandbags? and can anyone point to an anatomical figure showing where and what they are?

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**Author:** ![Grave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/71c47a/32.png) [@Grave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grave)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2020, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-sandbags-on-a-turtle/920083/2 "2020-09-08T10:45:54Z")

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> **[How to Clean a Turtle](https://www.instructables.com/How-to-clean-a-turtle/)**
>
> How to Clean a Turtle: So, by some method, you have come into the possession of 1 or more legally edible turtles. Congratulations! They are legendarily good eating. Or, if you're into catching, cleaning, and eating turtles, there's a good chance...

That is probably the best explanation of how to clean a turtle. The ‘sandbags’ are what the site tells you to avoid puncturing - they look like sandbags but are full of nastiness.