Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well I listened to everybodies advise and I spoke to my vet even further and we went with the surgery.

Surgery was done, I just got the call he said everything went well. He also said that the eggs were GIGANTIC and there was no possible way she could have passed them, she even had some follicles devoloping so he was very happy that we decided to go for the surgery.

Now he saved me the eggs, b/c somebody said that I should try to incubate them. The problem is I do not know how.....
Can anyone help me, I need to know substrate, temps, time frames etc. I do not have an incubator I tried to borrow one but it is being used so I will need instructions on how to do this wihtout an incubator.
Thanks for all your help
Christina
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1 Russian Tortoise (Willy)
1 Ornate Box Turtle (Lily)
1 Red Eared Slider (Chester)
2 White's Tree Frog (Kermit & Phil)
1 Red eyed Tree Frog (Justin)
2 Big Eyed Tree Frog
2 Bubbling Frog
2 Tiger Leg Tree Frogs (Akari & Shiro)
3 Amazonian Milky Tree Frogs
1 Dwarf Megophrys
1 Rainbow Burrowing Frog??
1 Praire Dog (Timmy)
2 Chinchillas (Layla & Snickers)
4 mice (Gabby and friends)
1 dog (Holly)
2 Cats (Champ & Bear)

Oh and a husband

On incubating, there are some basics that I can share with you:
1) moistened vermiculite, peat moss, sphagnum moss, potting soil or even dirt from your yard have been used successfully as a medium. I used vermiculite because I had some on hand.
2)Temperatures should be stable within the 75-85 degree range (stable is important: excessively high temps can kill)
3)DO NOT ROLL the eggs: find a place to keep them where they won't get jostled. Someone who used to post here regularly kept his makeshift incubation setup on top of his 'fridge because temps were steady and it was out of reach.
4)Have a perforated, loose fitting cover so that humidity is retained but there's also a little air circulation.
Folks have used deli cups, margarine tubs, etc., for this.
Once you have nested the eggs into the medium (you don't have to bury them), make sure that the medium is kept moist (but not drenched).
Eggs incubated at 80 degrees tend to hatch after about 60 days.
Those are some of the basics.
Again, check the archives for more suggestions. Glad to hear the surgery was a success: I hope she also has a successful recovery.
Regards,
Stephanie

I use vermiculite because it is sterile. You want it slightly damp to the touch, not too wet. Until you get your final set up going, the eggs need to not rotate as previously stated and they need to be in a humid environment, you don't want them to dry out.. Hopefully the vet can put them in a suitable container to get them home, maybe in damp paper towels in a deli cup or something.

I use a styrofoam cooler and a submersible aquarium heater.
I put the eggs, partially buried in vermiculite, in a critter keeper.
I have several inches of water in the cooler, and bricks in the cooler to hold the egg container above the water level. You can use a non submersible aquarium heater, but you have to have the water level higher. I set it so the temp is in the low 80s, usually I have some sarah wrap with holes poked in it over the egg container. Sometimes I remove it later in the incubation period, once the eggs are going well and the humidiy level in the incubator is good. While the saran wrap is on the container, usually take it off for a few minutes when I check on the eggs.

Top of a fridge or freezer might be good. I considered that but I felt the top of my freezer was too hot, I'd have to put something in between the egg container and the freezer top and as much as the family gets into the freezer I thought there would be too much activity around it.

Let us know if you have other questions and keep us posted!

Did the vet remove the ovaduct and the follicles? How did the vet remove the eggs?
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

I was unable to get full details at the time. I will ask when I pick her up.
but he cut a trap door in her plastron.
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1 Russian Tortoise (Willy)
1 Ornate Box Turtle (Lily)
1 Red Eared Slider (Chester)
2 White's Tree Frog (Kermit & Phil)
1 Red eyed Tree Frog (Justin)
2 Big Eyed Tree Frog
2 Bubbling Frog
2 Tiger Leg Tree Frogs (Akari & Shiro)
3 Amazonian Milky Tree Frogs
1 Dwarf Megophrys
1 Rainbow Burrowing Frog??
1 Praire Dog (Timmy)
2 Chinchillas (Layla & Snickers)
4 mice (Gabby and friends)
1 dog (Holly)
2 Cats (Champ & Bear)

Oh and a husband

please let me know. I'm curious if he was able to save the turtle reproductivly. I'd be curious to see if the eggs hatch also.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care