Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The boxies have been up for a few weeks now, and I am fairly certain that two of the three florida box turtles are gravid. I just started keeping box turtles again last year so I haven't had eggs/hatchlings in four years. I still have an incubator so I plan on using it. I remember all about digging the eggs up right after they are laid and keeping them in the same position. My questions are in what substrate should I put the eggs to incubate them and what should the humitity be? I remember that sex is determined by temperature. What are the temperature ranges that produce males, females, and a mix of genders?

Thanks,
Steven

"My questions are in what substrate should I put the eggs to incubate"

I use vermiculite, I know some use perlite and some others use topsoil.

"What are the temperature ranges that produce males, females, and a mix of genders?"

the temp range is 75-85 give or take, around 75 you'll get mostly males, 80 will be a mix and 85 or slightly higher will be mostly females, with cooler temps incubation can take a bit longer than they would with the higher temps.

if you catch the female in the act of laying you do not have to be so careful with the eggs, they can handle slight rolling for up to 24 hours, rolling after that you risk damaging or killing the embryo.