Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, I've found my first egg laden box turtle road casualty of the year. Luckily, I set up the incubator last week. My question is regarding the vermiculite that I purchased yesterday. The brand name is Ferti-Lome. It is supposed to be pure vermiculite. However, when I mixed in the water, there was a smell much like moth balls. I typically use perlite as an incubation medium, but switched to vermiculite upon recommendation from a friend. Is it normal for vermiculite to have this type of odor? I'm afraid to use it. It's not a terribly strong odor, but I'd rather be cautious.

I have been using different brands of vermiculite all along and have never noticed the odor that you mention, but then again I haven't really sniffed at it.

I think that vermiculite would be the better choice over perlite, as it will retain water/moisture more evenly, which is probably one reason why it has been recommended to you.

Sorry to hear that you found road kill but I hope you're successful with the eggs. I may pack a little kit in my car for such a purpose: plastic continer w/ vermiculite, water to moisten, etc. Can you suggest some other tools I may need? You can e-mail me off-list.

Stephanie

Thanks Steph. This smell is pretty powerful, so I'm going to use this stuff in the garden and go buy a new bag for the eggs...just in case.

My success rate for eggs removed from road kills is about 50/50. It's a little higher with box turtles simply because of the time of day when I typically find road killed box turtles. Other species seem to cross the roads more often when it's hotter and the sun is direct. The eggs from this situation don't last but a few minutes in the hot sun. That is the key! The eggs must remain relatively cool. It really doesn't matter if the turtle has been dead for a while. Amazingly, I've hatched babies from rigored turtles, especially if the cavity is open and the eggs received some air. The tools I recommend...GLOVES, scalpal or razor blade, eyelash scissors, container, sphagnum moss(good for a bouncy car ride), and a bottle of water. You'd be amazed at how many eggs you can accumulate doing this, and further by how many you hatch.

I feel fairly comfortable sharing this info. on the forum...honestly, I wish more people would try to salvage these little victims. Think about it, one adult female with 5 eggs. The eggs may be perfectly good. It would be a shame to have potentially 6 dead turtles. Just record the roadway, a mile marker, road sign, or some identifier and release the babies in the general vicinity when they hatch. Hopefully, there is suitable habitat several hundred yards from the road. If not, you'll have to use your best judgement. You may want to contact your local wildlife agency to ask them how they'd like you to handle releasing. I know you work with your local agency regularly Steph, this is just a general statement for anyone else desiring to do this.

One potential problem with this activity is the release of pathogens acquired at your home into the wild. I do what I can. I maintain my eggs in nearly aseptic conditions. Then, I release the babies directly from the incubation container into the wild. I do not headstart. Although, if I ever get some turtles that are a species of special concern I will contact an authority to find out if they'd like to headstart. I wouldn't even touch a Bog turtles' eggs, even if I found one d.o.r. I'd know who to call about that.

If there is no suitable habitat in which to release the babies, they are adopted out.

Would it be possible for you to take some photos
of an egg recovery taking place? I might consider
doing it, if I knew more.

I'm glad you posted this message, within this last week I saw two dead female snappers on route 55 in deptford, new jersey(for anyone who lives in south jersey). I think the one laid her eggs, and was on her way back to the swamp when she was struck. The other was flipped on her back on the side of the road, how she got flipped I don't know. Ken, do you actually remove the eggs on site. My brother in law is a pathologist at the university of Penn, so cutting open dead things is right up his alley. Ken, if it is not too much of an inconvenience could you email me instructions on the best way to remove the eggs. And also thanks for doing this sort of thing, thats really a nice gesture. cjoneill12@comcast.net.

Ah Deptford, I know it well my friend...too well. Memories...anyway, I'll get on the picture thing and the email thing. Unfortunately I am on the road a lot these days. If the people that I'm working with allow me to use their computers, I'll make it a priority. Right now, this is pay by the minute. Darn hotels!