Why you don't throw eggs out...

[-ryan-]

I was just about to throw out a couple clutches of eggs because the incubators has been stinky and I assumed they were the culprit. They have been in there for I believe a bit longer than it usually takes for my russian eggs to incubate (usually around 6-8 weeks), and I figured they had gone bad because the incubator got a little too humid in the past couple months.

Then I went downstairs to the incubator to see an arm and a head poking out the side of one of the "bad" eggs. Good thing I didn't toss them. Not sure if any of the others are any good anymore though.

 

[GBtortoises]

In the past I have had eggs incubate much longer than would normally be expected. In those cases I carefully candle them, which I wouldn't normally do. If they are obviously not fertile, as in the light passes through them and there is no apparent development, I dispose of them. If they are solid, I put them back in the incubator. I've been "suprised" more than a few times with hatchlings popping out of eggs.

 

[Weloveourtortoise]

That is great to hear!!! hope you have more arms and legs sticking out soon!

 

[t_mclellan]

This is more common than you might think.
There are many threads on here (some from me) telling the same story.
I think I have adopted Yvonne's motto, "Keep the eggs in the incubator till they hatch or EXPLODE"

Read this: http://tortoiseforum.org/thread-13583.html
Its almost your exact words!

Oh & CONGRADULATIONS!!!!!!

Tom McL.

 

[GBtortoises]

"Keep the eggs in the incubator till they hatch or EXPLODE"

I absolutely agree with that, at least up to the point before they explode!

 

[-ryan-]

That little guy is out. Don't see any signs from the other eggs yet, but I certainly am not going to throw them out.

He's only the seventh that I have successfully hatched so far, but now I have that queasy feeling, because over the past four years I have thrown away dozens and dozens of eggs that weren't "good". I have to wonder if any of them would have hatched had I hung onto them. Granted, a lot of them I did keep up until they exploded (or close to it), but still I do feel like it will be smart to be more cautious.

Here I was thinking about completely cleaning out the incubator and tossing all the eggs because I figured I killed all of them after I accidentally let it get too moist.

Which reminds me, I didn't get a chance to dig their enclosure up yesterday, so maybe tonight I'll find more eggs. Usually I can dig up a clutch of eggs every week or two from my enclosure with the four female russians. It's really only two of them that are laying successfully though. One is still a bit too young and the other I took from a family that wasn't taking care of her (she was stunted... within the first few months I had her I could not get her to stop growing... but whenever she does lay eggs she seems to lay them on the surface and she and the others eat them leading me to believe they are not fertile).

Anyway, even though I wish I could keep all of the little ones that hatched (hey, I've kept two out of the seven so far) in a few weeks this little dude will get me the rest of the money I need to build a new enclosure for the female russians, and I get the pleasure of watching him grow for a little while.

 

[Yvonne G]

When the eggs in my incubator get way past the "due" date and turn black and stinky, I lightly place paper towel over them so if they do explode, the mess stays contained in the bottom of the incubator.

 

[TortieLuver]

That's exciting news...it's so amazing to see a tortoise hatching, especially when you have done "all the taking care of" to get them to that point. I guess you learn something new everyday. I haven't had the explosion experience so that's good.

 

[-ryan-]

The coolest thing for me is that, out of my 6 russian tortoises that I keep as pets (so not counting any of the hatchlings that I give away, trade, or sell), I have raised one from a hatchling and two from eggs laid here. That means that my young 2 pound female that is almost ready for breeding and laying eggs was under my care since before she was born, and it's really good seeing her do so well (especially because she was a free be... the mom was gravid when I bought her). My male is the first tortoise I ever got, and I bought him from LLL as a hatchling, so I have got to see him grow from a tiny little dude to a big (still very small compared to the females) sexually active guy tortoise. Another one is only about 6 months old, and he came out of the egg unhealthy (didn't open his eyes for over a week), so we had to keep him, and it's been great watching him grow, which is a process I will continue to enjoy. He is super healthy now. Three of my females were obtained as adults, though one did quite a bit of growing after I got her, and the others were already pretty huge. They are so enjoyable because I get to watch them lay their eggs. Of course, that was a headache at first because they are kept indoors and wouldn't drop the eggs until I put 8" of dirt in their enclosure.

They are just such a pleasure all around. I enjoy spending time observing them and working with them (making their food and building enclosures).

 

[Kymiie]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
''There is always something good, in something bad''

xx

 

[Jacqui]

Congrats! It's all a learning experience and it sounds like you learned a valuable lesson for the future! I keep mine forever because a friend who raises geckos throw out some eggs, but forgot to take his trashcan out that night. The next morning he went to toss it and saw a cute little gecko looking up at him. My experience was with eggs I found laid in the water. I still gave them a chance and out hatched the cutest little sideneck.

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When the eggs in my incubator get way past the "due" date and turn black and stinky, I lightly place paper towel over them so if they do explode, the mess stays contained in the bottom of the incubator.

Great idea!