Reptile & Amphibian Forums

On Tuesday I came home early to find both of my female Russians scraping away at the dirt with their hind legs.

I didn't think much of it since they had been digging empty nests the last couple days.

I came out a couple hours later to find that they had filled in the holes, but not before depositing 4 eggs each.

I've talked about my difficulties in getting the eggs to hatch in the past. About 24 eggs have been laid over the last 4 seasons, and only one has hatched, and that was two years ago. Last year the females acted as if they didn't know how to build nests, depositing their first batch or two on the surface. And all of the unhatched eggs have been complete duds - no development at all.

So here's hoping for greater success this year.

I have trouble even suggesting this because I don't know if I'd be willing to try it but maybe you might want to consider splitting the clutches and incubating them differently. One drier than usual and one not as dry. If the incubation temperature is in the mid 80s, I don't think that would be an important factor as far as viability.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care