4 Hatchlings in 1 Egg

[PATMAN]

I had a sad experience today with what I thought was a normal 3 toed box turtle hatching. It started yesterday, but I noticed the hatchling looked a little deformed as it was half out the egg and struggling as you can see in the picture below.

I peeked inside the opening today and could see another hatchling, then another! I didn't see any movement from them. A couple hours later the exposed hatchling passed away.

I opened the egg and couldn't believe there were 4 hatchlings inside, one was very tiny.
It was a sad sight but interesting from a biology aspect. I only wished they would have survived.

I did take a few pictures of the opened egg but have not posted them in this post as I do not want to offend anyone.

 

[SuzieArizona]

That's so sad. I had no idea that more than one turtle could be in an egg.

I had a sad experience today with what I thought was a normal 3 toed box turtle hatching. It started yesterday, but I noticed the hatchling looked a little deformed as it was half out the egg and struggling as you can see in the picture below.

I peeked inside the opening today and could see another hatchling, then another! I didn't see any movement from them. A couple hours later the exposed hatchling passed away.

I opened the egg and couldn't believe there were 4 hatchlings inside, one was very tiny.
It was a sad sight but interesting from a biology aspect. I only wished they would have survived.

I did take a few pictures of the opened egg but have not posted them in this post as I do not want to offend anyone.

 

[turtlemann2]

ive read a thread with twins and that she was able to seperate them with half the yoke each and that both survived, these were spotteds. from a biology aspect this is very interesting. from a turtle hobbyiest standpoint this is such a terrible loss and im sorry, though i would be interested in seeing the photo of the quartet

 

[Arizona Sulcata]

Wow, 4 in one egg! Sorry for your losses... :/ Very interesting though!

 

[N2TORTS]

Wow.... very interesting .... and I'm sure if ya warned in the heading , not too many would be offened ...this is how we all learn , and great insight .
JD~

 

[dmarcus]

Thats very sad and like JD said, just put a warning in the heading so those that don't want to look will know. It would be interesting to see.

 

[Bow]

That's so sad. I have to agree, from a scientific view point it's fascinating. Arguably I would have been happier if they'd survived and we could see pictures of them growing up.

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Sad, I agree with you.

 

[l0velesly]

Wow, 4 is a big number in an egg! It's unfortunate that none made it

 

[zesty_17]

Very sad for your loss. It is pretty amazing to find 4 in one egg, this is the most i have heard at 1 time. Very sad they didn't make it though.

 

[Yvonne G]

This one-ups-man-ship has got to stop!!! First Stells with her twins, then cdmay with his triplets, and now quads? I mean really!!!

---

I guess that sounds pretty flippant...sorry, don't mean to belittle the fact that you lost 4 babies. That is a sad thing. Its never easy to lose the babies.

 

[Tccarolina]

I would like to see the pics.

 

[terryo]

Sad they didn't survive. I've seen twin's but never more then that with box turtles. It would be interesting to see the pictures.

 

[nicoleandrocky]

that's crazy, never seen 4 in 1 egg before. sorry about that though

 

[ascott]

So sad that the little one that struggle to the surface did not win his fight....I have no desire to see the other pics, but I am sure other would...

 

[nicoleandrocky]

So sad that the little one that struggle to the surface did not win his fight....I have no desire to see the other pics, but I am sure other would...

Poor little guy.
I wouldn't want to see any photo's either, it would just break my heart

 

[skottip]

I actually had 3 Indian Stars in one egg. None survived. I have them preserved. Pretty cool to look at. Sucks none made it though.

 

[HonuFonu23]

So sorry for your loss but dang.. that's really crazy.

 

[ada caro]

Sorry.

 

[austinl01]

I'm sorry to hear this, but that's what nature does sometimes. So, they would be identical quadruples?