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Is the substrate deep enough for Echo to dig a nest Robyn? I would call around to feed stores in your area and see if anyone has Hovabator incubators in stock. Make sure you get the cheap model without the fan.

Danny

There's her digging video. She did eat a little this morning, actually. I just checked on her and she's just resting now, nothing laid. I don't have an incubator set up yet, Farm & Fleet was closed today but I will get out there tomorrow to get one, I'd rather buy something than make one 'cause I'm scared to do it wrong!

Okay first thing is you need is more organic material in your substrate. It's not holding together enough to make a proper nest. I use mostly peat for my laying boxes, with some soil mixed in. It needs to be on the damp side to hold together also. She also seems to be digging a pit first, so you should have close to 10 inches of substrate for her.

Danny[/b]

Danny you’re so good and have so much patience with us new moms (or grandmas) to be.
I didn’t mean to steal your thread Kelly. Would it be better if I posted under Greek or is this ok?

LOL I don't mind!

Thanks Kelly. Sorry, I’m a little panicked as I leave for vacation in TWO days and the person who is looking out for them is only set to feed and make sure they have water they know nothing about torts.

So far:
I have separated Echo and Ajax. She started digging and he kept bumping her while she was digging (not good).

I am going to call around tomorrow for an incubator as you described. I see her substrate is not good either. I will get some peat and mix it with soil tomorrow and moisten it so it holds together better.

Kelly I know you said you placed Calypso in a box so she could lay her eggs. How big is this box?

Echoes winter home is now 29 in. x 48 in. and her substrate in middle is about 8 in deep.
Would it be better if I placed her in a bit smaller but deeper Plastic tote and gave her more substrate?

When I had Comet it was so easy. Step into the enclosure and there she is.

If you can Robyn I'd do the same thing as Kelly did. If not just place a hotspot over the center spot that is 8 inches deep.
It depends on the female but some don't like being moved to a different spot to lay. One of my greek females is like this. She'll dig in her table, but when I put her in a laying tub she won't dig. So then I have to shift her back and forth. Letting her dig in the table then putting her in the tub. It takes a few days to get her hormones up enough to just dig in the tub.

Danny

great video Kelly.
i hope both of your torts do well with their nesting.

OK Echo is still eating a little this morning after digging her first hole. I have amended the soil and made it mainly soil with bead a beast added a litttle water for moisture and packed it down. She sniffed it then started digging.
I found a Hovabator Incubator as Danny suggested and will pick it up in an hour. Hope her eating is indicating she will wait until I get back form vacation.

It would be okay if she laid while you were gone Robyn. The eggs will be just fine until you got back. I missed 4 Golden eggs this fall in my laying box. They were there for 2 weeks in less than ideal conditions, as I'd shut the lights out. All four are fertile and growing just fine, so fertile eggs can withstand quite a bit.

Danny

egyptiandan Wrote:It would be okay if she laid while you were gone Robyn. The eggs will be just fine until you got back. I missed 4 Golden eggs this fall in my laying box. They were there for 2 weeks in less than ideal conditions, as I'd shut the lights out. All four are fertile and growing just fine, so fertile eggs can withstand quite a bit.

Danny

OK, Thanks Danny but the stork has landed. We have three eggs. I have set up the incubator and they are in there now. She still seems a little interested in digging. She is nosing the dirt. So maybe more to come? But now I won't worry so much if she lays while I am gone. Whew!

WOOHOOOOOOO! Hopefully the stork's next stop is my house!

Kelly any luck with Calypso yet?
Boy or boy, being a tort grandma is harder than being a human grandma.

Thats excellent news Robyn. 3 is about normal clutch size for T. g. antakyensis, so she shouldn't be laying again for another 20 to 30 days.
Keep a very close eye on the incubator. It's sometimes hard to keep the temperatures low. Keep checking it these first few days.
What do you have the eggs in and what are they sitting on?
What are you doing for humidity?

Danny

Congrats Gramma Robyn! Good luck with the eggs.