Meet Felix and Oscar! Big Brother winner Dr. Will Kirby, a self-described turtle enthusiast, is introducing his new two-headed turtle to the world.
Also known as a Red-eared slider – or by its scientific name Trachemys scripta elegans – this type of turtle is actually the subspecies people usually have as a pet, but Felix and Oscar (who are named after the main characters of the '70s sitcom The Odd Couple) are bicephalic, meaning they have two heads.
Kirby previously cared for another two-headed turtle, Adam and Steve, who sadly passed away in December 2024. "I previously cared for a bicephalic, but the two heads didn’t like each other and I was constantly dealing with infected bits and even the loss of digits on the upper limbs," Kirby exclusively tells Parade. "It is believed that the most common cause of dealt in two-headed turtles that survive the first few month of life is, ironically, drowning. Already with compromised swimming ability and often with missing digits, if they accidentally flip over and can’t right themselves, they can’t hold their breath indefinitely and will eventually drown."
Still, the celebrity dermatologist says "when healthy, this species can live for many decades," adding, "I believe that Felix and Oscar were born in 2015, likely making them the oldest bicephalic Trachemys scripta elegans alive today!"
He adds, "I personally know of six living two-headed red-eared sliders today as well as a two-headed terrapin and three different two-headed tortoises but the phenomenon is, of course, extremely rare. That said, having two heads does happen in species other than just turtles. Reports of animals with two heads include kittens, calves, snakes, mice, birds, and lambs."
As for his new friends, the Chief Medical Offer of LaserAway tells Parade that "both heads are uniquely sentient," explaining, "We know this because they have unique personalities. Felix (anatomical left) seems to be slight more dominant and a little more 'food-driven' while Oscar (anatomical right) is ever-so-slightly more passive and shy. Additionally, one might sleep while the other is awake. Felix controls the left arm and left leg while Oscar controls the right arm and right left. Although their tail is full functional, it’s unclear which of the two control it."
Kirby explains that it remains unknown why this condition occurred in Felix and Oscar: "A speculative cause may include maternal exposure to pollutants but it impossible to actually determine how they came to be this way."
In terms of gender, that's also unclear. "The arms appear to be female but the tail appears to likely be male," he says. "Their shell, distorted from birth, gives no gender indication. The shape of the shell can also help determine gender once a turtle has achieved sexual maturity but Felix and Oscar were born with a significant shell deformity making that it impossible to assist in gender identification."
The reality TV winner built a specialized tank for Felix and Oscar in his home. "While they are completely healthy today, they do require specialized living conditions and close monitoring," he says. "In fact, I have three motion-detection cameras aimed at their main enclosed so that they can be monitored at all times. They reside in a small thank with filtered and warmed water and they are exposed to daily light (including LED, UVA, and UVB) that is set automatically to mimic a normal outdoor experience and to set their circadian rhythm."
Kirby loves to share his affinity for turtles, but advises against keeping them as pets. "Turtles live a really long time and thus, turtle husbandry requires a life-time commitment," he says. "While I love turtles and my passion and enthusiasm translates into a unique hobby for me and a healthy life for Felix and Oscar, turtles are simply not the right pet for most people. But I don’t see them as 'pets' per se anyway. To me, they are proof of the wonder of the universe and I have been tasked with caring for them and serving as their humble keeper. Many cultures consider two-headed turtles lucky, but to me, their real value is in how rewarding it is to care for such a unique animal. Humans have not just the responsibility but the honor and privilege of caring for all of mother nature’s creatures. The world is alive with magic and Felix and Oscar are living proof of that!"
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