A New Hatchling

[Turtulas-Len]

Spotted this little guy a little after noon today. I'm not sure how long he's been there. He looks great and weighs 18 grams. This is where he will stay for right now.

 

[Yvonne G]

Did he hatch in the ground?

 

[Turtulas-Len]

Did he hatch in the ground?

Yes. I didn't see her nesting. It may be the only one, time will tell.

 

[TaylorTortoise]

Amazing, are these type of turtles native to your land?

 

[Turtulas-Len]

Amazing, are these type of turtles native to your land?

No, I'm in the Northern Neck of Virginia.

 

[OkAdiza]

How is the hatchling doing that you found a year or 2 ago?

 

[Turtulas-Len]

How is the hatchling doing that you found a year or 2 ago?

It was 2 years ago and he is doing fine. Here's a pic from just a few minutes ago I brought him in and weighed him 1 pound 6 oz and 6 inches. Thanks for asking because when I went to get him I noticed the adult female wasn't in her crock, When I found her she was nesting in a dark corner of the pen. a couple pics to show why I didn't notice her I'll leave these eggs where they are for now. But i will remove some of the weeds and cactus around them.

 

[OkAdiza]

Thanks for the update!

 

[TaylorTortoise]

Spotted this little guy a little after noon today. View attachment 331281 View attachment 331282 I'm not sure how long he's been there. He looks great and weighs 18 grams. This is where he will stay for right now. View attachment 331283

So you didn’t know the female laid any eggs when you found the hatchling? It was a total surprise?

 

[Turtulas-Len]

So you didn’t know the female laid any eggs when you found the hatchling? It was a total surprise?

Yes it was. Both this year and 2 years ago.

 

[Turtulas-Len]

The new baby is doing good. He hung at 18 grams longer than I expected. But today he weighed in at 30 grams. The air temp is 84 and the ground temp is 81 at 90% humidity. Holding these settings as constant 24-7 as possible. He's still hiding most of the time but venturing out a little more as time passes. He does self soak in the little saucer every now and then. To heat the air I have a hot rock a golden rod and a piece of flex watt hanging high above where he can't touch them. The total wattage of all 3 is 24 watts. Underneath the enclosure I have one of my home made ceramic heating pads adjusted to hold a constant soil temp.

 

[Turtulas-Len]

I named this one Lyric and is coming along fine. Started out at 18 grams and in a little more than 2 months is up to 54 grams. Every morning I give it fresh greens from the yard and mazuri. This morning I saw a fresh dead adult female cricket in the cricket jar so i offered it to her. Something I've never done before. T he first thing eaten was the cricket. I hope it's a female.

 

[Turtulas-Len]

Lyric got a little outside time today. All the other Hermanns adults are still outside using their heated crocks and or digging in some. When the sun hits their enclosures they come out to catch some rays.

 

[TaylorTortoise]

Lyric got a little outside time today. View attachment 335489 View attachment 335491 All the other Hermanns adults are still outside using their heated crocks and or digging in some. When the sun hits their enclosures they come out to catch some rays.

Beautiful. I love hermanns.

 

[Turtulas-Len]

Haven't posted about Lyric for a while. She is doing fine and growing. Weather permitting she gets some outside time She is up to 130 grams. All the other Hermann's are in the garage sleeping.

 

[DoubleD1996!]

Haven't posted about Lyric for a while. She is doing fine and growing. View attachment 339040 Weather permitting she gets some outside time View attachment 339041 She is up to 130 grams. All the other Hermann's are in the garage sleeping.

Growing beautifully. I'm hoping to get some this spring.