Start a new thread of your own, and lets talk about what you are, or are not doing and see if we can find the issue. It could just be your male.
Why don't we see many russian tortoise hatchlings?
- Thread starter Yellow Turtle01
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Start a new thread of your own, and lets talk about what you are, or are not doing and see if we can find the issue. It could just be your male.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/why-they-no-hatch.107267/ i made the thread
This year I had 33 Russian eggs hatch. Five of my females laid eggs. They seem to like to lay their eggs in the tall fescue grass that is at one end of their enclosure. In 2013 I only had 11 that hatched. In 2012 I only had 3 eggs and none were fertile. It is the same enclosure, same male and same females, although until this year the youngest female in that enclosure was not old enough and I never saw the male trying to mate with her until this year. My Russians woke up a month earlier than usual this year. I do not know if that had anything to do with the increase in egg laying or not. This year I missed two nests and found a total of 8 babies walking around the enclosure, which was very exciting. I incubated the eggs to be female so I am curious how many will turn out to be females.
Another thing that I find interesting is that in 2013 all of Chloe's eggs were normal size except one which was exceptionally small, however, was fertile and a tiny, tiny little Russian hatched out. I kept that one and she is healthy and catchling up in size to the other two that I kept. This year, however, a good percentage of Chloe's eggs were smaller than average (athough not as small as the egg of 2013). They were fertile and hatched. The babies are very healthy, although small for their chronological age.
Another thing that I find interesting is that in 2013 all of Chloe's eggs were normal size except one which was exceptionally small, however, was fertile and a tiny, tiny little Russian hatched out. I kept that one and she is healthy and catchling up in size to the other two that I kept. This year, however, a good percentage of Chloe's eggs were smaller than average (athough not as small as the egg of 2013). They were fertile and hatched. The babies are very healthy, although small for their chronological age.
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So two babies hatched in the last 24hrs. One is going to be absolutely gorgeous. Very high yellow. I'll post pics tomorrow morning her shell is also very pretty shape. Very wide. Hard to really describe. We'll probably end up keeping her for future breeding projects down the road.
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Sorry took me so long to get these pics up. I'll post more pics tomorrow.
Oh wow, your light baby is beautiful. I also love the dark color!
Whatever you're doing, it's right.
Whatever you're doing, it's right.
Those are some seriously gorgeous babies. Well done.
WOW. They look great!
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Thanks we still have 6-7 viable egg that should be joining us any day. I'll post most pics as they come.
Don't want to steal this threads thunder, but I'd like a lot of input from people who have posted here!
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/breeding-russians-for-dummies.107437/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/breeding-russians-for-dummies.107437/
OMG!!! They are SOOOO cute!!!!
I really like that dark one!
I really like that dark one!
Those babies are gorgeous, James, congrats! Are those by chance from the females that hitchhiked with us from Portland?
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The high yellow babe is from the high yellow I got from you. She's by far my favorite. Very social!!
That's wonderful, I'm so happy for you.
Has the other (high contrast) female laid yet?
Very beautiful baby Russians. Thanks for sharing.
Here are some of this year's batch from my RT group.
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Hey Katie great looking babes are they from this fall's clutches?
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That's wonderful, I'm so happy for you.
Yep she laid 2 eggs one cracked while digging out and the other looks viable should see a baby from her in the next week. As I type this we have another babe hatching.
The three smaller ones are from my Fall clutches.
All 4 of Amber's eggs turned out to be infertile (this was her first season laying, and they didn't even have a yolk in them!)
The bigger of the small babies was Mila's first. She weighed 20g at hatching!
The two smallest babies were Lady's first babies.
Most of the babies have shipped to their new owners by now. Weather interfered with 2 being shipped - they get to wait until Spring.
I'm curious to see who all lays eggs in the Spring!
Timmy girl gave me 6 babies last Spring.
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Just a few more fun pics. Six babies out and two to eggs still developing.
