turtle laid eggs!

Question
hi jeannie...i could respond back to the other string, so started a new one.  stella did indeed laid eggs!  she fakes us out...she was digging test nests all over, but the one place where she did lay eggs was totally covered.  it just so happened that i was digging to plant some food/flowers for them and i found the eggs.  2 were in tact and one was broken.  we've put them in the incubator and are just hopeful that we have baby turtles in a couple months.  any feedback, helpful hints would be great!  thanks so much!  kelly

Answer
Hi Kelly,

Well, I'm not surprised--told you they hide the nests!  I'm glad you found it.  Just some quick incubation points:

1)  The eggs should go into the incubator with the same side up as they were in the nest.  This is very important if the eggs were in the nest for any length of time, because cells that create the oxygen link to the embryo start forming very quickly.  Turning the eggs can cause the developing embryo to die.  If you turned the eggs in taking them from the nest, don't worry about it at this point, but make sure they are not turned while in the incubator.  It's best to mark the top with an X (use a pencil) just in case.

2)  The eggs should be kept in a container with vermiculite and water mixed 50/50 by weight.  Cover them loosely, and also put a container or two of water in the incubator to keep the humidity up.  A hygrometer (humidity reader) is a good idea.  I always keep humidity up around 70%.  If the humidity is too low the embryos will often die in the shell.

3)  Temperature should be no higher than 90 degrees.  I always aim for 89 degrees.  Sex in tortoises is all determined by incubation temperature.  Lower temperatures will produce males (around 83-84 degrees), higher temps females (88-89 degrees).  The risk of shell deformities and even death rises if the temperature goes much over 90 degrees, so to be safe keep it below that level.

4)  Fertile eggs will generally chalk within 48 hours.  Watch these, because they may or may not have chalked while in the ground.  I have always been able to candle eggs at about 4 weeks and see embryo movement, but I don't really recommend handling the eggs.  They should hatch in approximately two months if fertile, but the rule is to keep them until they hatch or explode.

5)  You can find egg development pictures and information here:  http://russiantortoise.net/breeding.htm

Oh, and these are tortoises, not turtles.  Tortoises are land only; turtles are aquatic.  ;)

If you post back, set it to private and I'll give you my email address so you can email me directly if you have any questions.  I'd like to find out how the eggs do!