Hatchlings learning to burrow!

[Katherine]

They have figured it out already : )

Do you see anything?

Reminds of playing hide and seek with a toddler, "If I can't see you, you can't see me" mentality.

And I dug her out for soak she likely did not want or need, ruining her hard work. Mean mom...Probably quite frustrating for the little bugger!

I love seeing them interact with the earth in ways I imagine they would if they were in their own in a native environment.

 

[Jacob]

Awesome, I Have Heard hatching's will usually stay in thief burrow after they are born for a couple of days , and they absorb their yolk-sac

 

[Katherine]

Awesome, I Have Heard hatching's will usually stay in thief burrow after they are born for a couple of days , and they absorb their yolk-sac

Of course it is just speculation, but I would wager they are down their longer than a few days! Mine take several days or longer to emerge from their egg completely and then usually don't get too active until the sac is absorbed. In the wild that time would have to pass and then they would have to dig out of the nest site. The shallowest nest I have ever dug up from a sulcata was 16 inches deep... That's a lot of dirt to displace for a tiny little tortoise. Granted s/he would have help from clutchmates but I tend to think that a few days is on the brief side of time they would initially spend underground. Some day when I am rich and famous I will have to dig down into a nest site, set up cameras and wait 3-4 months to see what really happens. Haha.

 

[wellington]

I would so freak out the second I couldn't see them. My leopard will just hide under a plant and I freak cuz he blends in so well, even though I know he can't get out, I still panic.

 

[Jacob]

Awesome, I Have Heard hatching's will usually stay in thief burrow after they are born for a couple of days , and they absorb their yolk-sac

Of course it is just speculation, but I would wager they are down their longer than a few days! Mine take several days or longer to emerge from their egg completely and then usually don't get too active until the sac is absorbed. In the wild that time would have to pass and then they would have to dig out of the nest site. The shallowest nest I have ever dug up from a sulcata was 16 inches deep... That's a lot of dirt to displace for a tiny little tortoise. Granted s/he would have help from clutchmates but I tend to think that a few days is on the brief side of time they would initially spend underground. Some day when I am rich and famous I will have to dig down into a nest site, set up cameras and wait 3-4 months to see what really happens. Haha.

Thats awesome, thanks for sharing..