Food acquisition, feeding, and growth in moist terrestrial laboratory conditions were compared in 2 species of turtles that inhabit brackish water environments. Malaclemys hatchlings showed normal growth, but Chelydra hatchlings became severely stressed. The results suggest that the extended use of terrestrial habitats as a means of osmoregulation in high salinity habitats is a viable adaptive strategy for diamondback terrapin but not for snapping turtle hatchlings.