Hi everyone,
one of my female easterns is expecting, she started digging nesting sites yesterday. One of my other females keeps bugging her (I'm serious, this girl has issues, she's pretty much one of those "in yo' face!" turtles!) Anyways, I had to seperate the gravid girl to make sure that she isn't stressed by the curious onlooker. She seems to be adapting fine to her temp. home and is nesting. My question is, what temps should the eggs be kept at? Around 85 degrees? Can they be temp. sexed? If so, what temps for males and what for females? I have hatched many snakes and lizards, but this will be the first time I incubated turtle eggs in my incubator (I've had them hatch out in outdoor enclosures, but it's going to be exciting to be able to keep a check on the eggs and watch them hatch!) All info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Christy
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Prepairing for eggs, a few questions....
Replies (2)
Temps. no higher than 85 for incubating; anywhere in the 75-85 range is fine.
Temp. sexing is possible....Constant 75 will produce more males, constant 80 about half & half, constant 85 will produce more females. Note the use of the word 'more': its not 100%.
At 80 degrees, incubation time will be about 60 days. Maintaining humidity is important during this time & some folks recommend moistening the medium but not the eggs (ie. if you use a mister)
Also, if you can, get the curious female away from the gravid one until eggs are laid, so that you don't end up with an eggbound girl, or, so that she doesn't lay them in water or on the surface.
Good luck
Stephanie
RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX TURTLE MANUAL BY PHILIPPE DE VOSJOLI
TEMPERATURE AND SEX DETERMINATION
Recent research suggests that the sex of box turtles is determined by the temperature during incubation. Eggs incubated at 71*F will result mostly in males. Eggs incubated at 79*F will tend to result in more or less equal numbers of males and females. Above 79*F more females tend to be produced. At a temperature of 88*F the great majority of hatchlings will be female.
Hope this helped!!!
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR GIRLS. IM EXPECTING AGAIN TONIGHT!!! MY FEMALES ARE DOUBLE CLUTCHERS! and They have already had one clutch a few weeks ago.. Im now expecting them to have another.. Samantha one of my females was digging last night.. just waiting on her tonight! And DOT is the other.. she is gravid too.. but I dont know if it will be tonight or whenever!
