When to move?

[socialworker81]

I attached a picture a the two recent hatchlings, one from Friday and the one from today is the darker one. I'm just wondering when it is ok to move them to regular housing and substrate? Thanks!

 

[ascott]

I can not offer first hand advice in response to your question...however...my post will give your thread a bump...

 

[Arizona Sulcata]

I move them into my substrate once their sac has receeded. Until then I keep them on a moist towel in an aquarium. Keeps their sac clean and keeps them nice and humid.

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

I move them into my substrate once their sac has receeded. Until then I keep them on a moist towel in an aquarium. Keeps their sac clean and keeps them nice and humid.

We do similar.

 

[Katherine]

We do similar.

As do we.

 

[tortadise]

Same here. The first few weeks are very vital to a super healthy hatchling. Keep them moist.

 

[Irwin4530]

so as soon as they hatch move them....or do they stay in the incubator for a few days?
I have 1 egg in the incubator now ...on vermiculite.
I notice that these hatchlings are on spagnum moss, should I switch???

 

[socialworker81]

I move them into my substrate once their sac has receeded. Until then I keep them on a moist towel in an aquarium. Keeps their sac clean and keeps them nice and humid.

Thanks! I was keeping them on a paper towel, but it was getting so dry while I was at work. I heard the moss stays a little more moist. These little guys took awhile to actually finish breaking through the egg, but their sacs are receding pretty quickly and are stating to be little piggy's already

 

[Katherine]

Thanks! I was keeping them on a paper towel, but it was getting so dry while I was at work. I heard the moss stays a little more moist. These little guys took awhile to actually finish breaking through the egg, but their sacs are receding pretty quickly and are stating to be little piggy's already

I have used moist paper towel many of times, if you put a lid on your container it should stay moist through out the day. What I like about the paper towel is that they are so simple to change out everyday to ensure a clean environment while the egg sac is still exposed, what I do not like about paper towel is that sooner or later one of them misses the food and takes a bite of the paper towel. While it is not toxic or particularly harmful it is also not tortoise food...

 

[socialworker81]

so as soon as they hatch move them....or do they stay in the incubator for a few days?
I have 1 egg in the incubator now ...on vermiculite.
I notice that these hatchlings are on spagnum moss, should I switch???

I move mine as soon as I see they are all the way out of the egg. I read the vermiculite can be dangerous if they happen to swallow it...

 

[jojodesca]

I would think once they adsorb their yolk sacs....then I would still keep a soft substrate for about a year after that......

 

[Tom]

I leave them in the incubator in their egg until they decide to get out of their egg and start walking around. I've had this happen within 6 hours of pipping and as long as 6 days after first pipping. Usually its 24-48 hours for me.

Once they are out of their egg, I rinse them off and give them their first soak while I set up the brooder box. I put paper towels down in a plastic shoe box with just four small holes drilled for ventilation, and spray them damp. I also put their rinsed off egg shell and some greens in the brooder box to prevent them from eating the paper towels like Katherine mentioned. They usually eat their egg shell and start nibbling greens within two or three days. I keep the brooder box somewhere warm, with the lid on, usually on top of their incubator, and change the paper towels every day while they soak. Usually within a week they have absorbed their yolk sac and the umbilical scar has closed up. This is when I finally move them to a real enclosure. By this point they are eating well and I make sure they have full tummies and a couple of plates of food in there to keep them from eating the substrate.

I like to soak hatchlings every day for the first few months. I really believe this is a critical step to ensuring their long term health and smooth growth. Now a two month old is not going to drop dead if you skip a day, but as a general rule I think it is good for them. Another critical element is to use a humid hide box in a warm area of the enclosure for them to rest and sleep in. I usually put them in there several times a day, to "teach" them to use it. These simulate the humid hiding places that that look for in the wild, and work to prevent dehydration.

Good luck and keep us posted.