Here she is!!!!!!!!!!!

[DeanS]

Damn Neal! That's GREAT news...Congratulations! And that's the smoothest leopard I've seen...today

I am determined that this one and her brothers & sisters will be the smoothest babcocki's you will ever see.

Neal will rule the world with babcocki...just as Tom will with pardalis!

 

[Neal]

She's looking great Neal

How big is the yolk sack?

Always glad to help

Danny

The yolk sack was about quarter size last night and about 1/2 an inch thick, it absorbed quite a bit and is now dime size and almost flat. She has started to "expand" out to look like a normal baby. It's amazing how much energy she has, she's all over the place! More pictures tonight.

 

[Edna]

Congrats! OK if I smoke a cigar in your honor?

 

[Neal]

Here she is 24 hours later and nearly completley filled out.

Yolk sac is nearly dried up.

---

I'm amazed at how active she is, definatley has her father's personality.

 

[Tom]

She's gorgeous Neal. Positively perfect.

 

[Neal]

Congrats! OK if I smoke a cigar in your honor?

Indeed!

 

[Shelli]

Owww bless!! How super exciting!! I will have to look at your past posts to see how this all came about.. lol

 

[froghaven5]

How exciting! Congratulations!

 

[Sweetness_bug]

Amazing!!

 

[ElfDa]

My mom called it her grand-tortoise.

that is almost as adorable as the photos!
I'm lucky I didn't squeal, here at my desk in the cube farm! lol

That is one cute tortie!!! <3 <3 <3

 

[Jessicap]

Congratulations! she is beautiful.

 

[Skyler Nell]

Wow thats so awesome!
She is SO pretty
congrats Neal

 

[Neal]

Thanks, I wish her 20 something siblings would hurry up, they sure are taking their sweet a** time. 138 days incubating.

 

[ElfDa]

man, i wish i could have one of your beebees! <3 <3 <3

 

[onarock]

Thanks, I wish her 20 something siblings would hurry up, they sure are taking their sweet a** time. 138 days incubating.

Wow Neal, you have twenty something eggs all at 138 days..

 

[Neal]

Well not all, but that was the first clutch of 7 eggs, two exploded and one hatched. They are the ones that are most developed though.

 

[onarock]

Well not all, but that was the first clutch of 7 eggs, two exploded and one hatched. They are the ones that are most developed though.

Yeah, I've had eggs explode before. Is she your first hatchling? And if so are you going to keep her?

 

[Neal]

Yes she is my first that I have "bred" so to speak. To be quite honest I don't have loads of experience raising hatchlings. I have always avoided hatchlings just because they are so difficult (see my most recent thread). In my opinion hatchlings should really be left to more experienced keepers or more dedicated keepers than just anyone who walks into a pet shop and says - hey those look cool! So, before I go out and sell a bunch I want to make sure I can give people the support they need from my own experience. I am perfectly capable of taking care of all the babies I produce for however long, but at this point if I sell them it won't be until they're after this fragile stage.

 

[ElfDa]

how long would you say is the fragile stage?

Penny turned a year, this month (in all likelihood).
She's still quite petite, but is growing nicely, and quite cheerful!

 

[Neal]

Some other people with more experience might be able to add more credible information on when the fragile stage ends. It of course varies from tortoise to tortoise, I'm thinking anything past a year is pretty solid. Size might be a better indicator than age, I would say 3 times the hatchling size to throw out a number.