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last night I candled my boxie eggs to see how far along they are, one is very dark, had obvious movement I suspsect that will be the first to hatch, the other 2 you can still see the veins inside the eggs both hatchlings are very much alive and did not stop moving while I was watching, for those who have candled boxie eggs before is this normal? for one egg to be so much farther ahead in developement that the others? is it likely the 2 that seem small will just hatch small and the veins are the yolk?
one of the little ones only took up about half of the egg, the other about 2/3 of the egg and the one I couldn't see much of anything in was about 3/4 of the egg, they'll be 60 days into incubation tomorrow.
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1.2.1 Terrapene Carolina Triunguis
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Candelling is an exciting process!

It is normal to see them moving in their eggs. With respects to the differences in their size; that is normal too. There will be varying degrees of development due to genetics as you have suggested; however their is a micro climate in your incubating area that influences growth to a large degree. One side of the incubating medium will be warmer (due to objects next to it or factors that insulate it or factors that absorb more heat), another side will be affected if there is a slight lean. It will have more moisture. Together these can and do affect embryo growth rate. Throw in genetics and the fact that while the mother was forming yolk; one may have received less, or may have received a smaller delivery system. There are many varibles here that can influence size in hatchlings; but all is perfectly normal.

P.S. So which of the ways did you use to candel them? I'm curious as I had written a post earlier on that specific subject. See the post at the address below.

Ric K.

"Techniques In Candling Box Turtle Eggs" ( below)

http://forums.kingsnake.com/viewarch.php?id=817871,822436&key=2005

Florida Boxies

I use a small torch, it doesn't heat up very fast.
I dont use an incubator and the container wasn't close to anything that would make it retain heat on one side, not to mention it's a relatively small container only about 6" dia.
I am use to candling birds eggs so I know movement is a great sign.
is it likely they will all hatch on the same day or because of the growh differences will they be days/weeks apart?
all the other eggs I have hatched out even if they were from different clutches all hatched on the same day, but they also incubated for 3 months.
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My Site
1.2.1 Terrapene Carolina Triunguis
0.1 Nymphicus hollandicus
1.1 Melopsittacus undulatus
1.0 American Cocker Spaniels
1.0 American Short Hair? Cat
1.1 Rouen Ducks

Heat flows through our homes as radiant energy. This can actually be viewed via a infrared scanner. You'd be amazed at how six inches away the temp is different in our homes. You can also see this with an reptile temp lazer scanner.

In any case I believe most of the boxies in a small incubated medium as you have described will hatch/pip on the same day or one day apart .

However there is always the one egg that breaks all rules. I have 4 clutches hatch in July. All piped on the same day except one which was two weeks late. It was a smaller than usual egg and I was a bit worried. The baby is fine but smaller than her siblings.

Genetics ..small yolk.... possibly not enough calcium in her egg .. not sure.
Ric