Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Could some one kindly provide some guidelines for incubating yellowfoot eggs. I have had numerous clutches over the years, but the closest I have had to success is a egg that broke open prematurely last spring and the hatcling didn't make it. Ideal temps, humidity, etc.? Should the container that the eggs are housed in be covered or not?

Thanks,

Alex

The greatest mistake in incubating tortoise eggs is incubating them too moist.

You can avoid this by placing the eggs on a dry substrate (vermiculite, perlite or sand) and find a way to make the ambient humidity 100%.

This can be accomplished by placing the container of eggs in a dish of water being careful not to let the condensation to collect at the top and 'rain' on the eggs. You can fix this by slanting the cover so any condensation rolls off and not onto the eggs.

A good temperature of 86F or there about is a good starting point. Incubation takes as long as 120-180 days but can go as high as 270 days.

>>Could some one kindly provide some guidelines for incubating yellowfoot eggs. I have had numerous clutches over the years, but the closest I have had to success is a egg that broke open prematurely last spring and the hatcling didn't make it. Ideal temps, humidity, etc.? Should the container that the eggs are housed in be covered or not?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Alex
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

So your opinion would be that I should leave the eggs uncovered and fill the tray in the bottom of the incubator with water? I've tried this before, but it always seems that the vermiculite dries out.

Regards,

Alex