Posted by:
rtdunham
at Fri Sep 4 16:19:29 2009 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by rtdunham ]
>>Ok, I was at the pond today looking for black racers (oh, and I found a 5footer BTW). And I saw a hole that had a bunch of shell pieces in. So I dug a bit in the hole and found 2 eggs. I thought that whatever inside was dead cause if it was alive it would have left like the others. So I opened the eggs and found they were baby snappers and both are alive. I then found a 3rd egg. I poked a hole in the egg but that turtle is still inside. I bred boas so I know to leave them in the shell as long as possible to absorb as much yoke as possible. Both the hatchlings have a yellow yoke attached to the belly. Both of the shells are extremely soft, I even may have deformed one while holding them. Well I have them in a bucket with some water on one end and they are wrapped in wet/damp papertowels. I can use some advise on keeping these guys alive. I may have opened the egg too earily for them. These 3 were deeper in the ground then the others. Also, I know snappers eat fish and earthworms. But what do the tiny hatchlings eat. Please help with advise. This just happened this morning. Thanks
don't worry about what to feed them, they might be tiny but their mouths aren't! worms and feeder fish should do just fine. i'll leave it to others to contribute tips on keeping them alive. (aside: i was planting a shrub in my box turtle pen a dozen or so years ago and accidentally unearthed 4 eggs. I'd seen no breeding activity, observed no digging/laying, so i had no idea how old the eggs were. I buried them shallowly in a shoebox of moist sand, and they hatched--the next day! 4th of july, by the way. i kept one of the babies for a number of years. Anyway, if i'd been planting a few days later i'd have missed them completely.
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RE: Snapping turtle hatchlings - help - rtdunham, Fri Sep 4 16:19:29 2009