I retrieved a batch of eggs today from near our pond. The Turtle was still covering the nest at 11 this morning. The Racoons are terrible here and where this turtle was the Racoons get all of them. So I felt it was best to take them. Since the eggs were just laid (a few were still soft) I am hoping they will survive being transported. I had to carry them 3/4 mile and the drive home is about 3 miles. I am hoping they will survive. Any thoughts on the chances these survived? I have them in an incubator @ 82 F. I used Pearlite with equal portions of water to Pearlite by weight. Is that the best for incubating? I have hatched lots of Kingsnakes, Milksnakes and Hognose but never Turtles.
And by the way, this was not a big turtle, 14" long shell at the most and she laid 33 eggs, wow!
Thanks
Bill
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Common Snapper Eggs
Replies (5)
You shouldn't have any problems with those eggs. I brought back a dozen snapper eggs once from MI to AL, a distance of about 850 miles by car and everyone hatched. I'm not sure about perlite as I've always used vermiculite but as long as you squeezed most of the water out they should be okay.
Good luck.
Thanks Rick,
I switched to Pearlite when I heard that some brands of vermiculite can be treated with chemicals. I have done fine with it for my Snake eggs.
I was told to keep the turtle eggs much drier than snake eggs. The Pearlite really soaks up the water so it just barely feels moist. Did you mist your Snapper eggs or add any moisture while incubating?
Thanks
Bill
No, what I do is soak the vermiculite in water then squeeze all I can out with my hands. I do this until I have about 2 to 3 inches of vermiculite in a plastic shoebox. I do it the same way for snakes. The only time I added a little water I drowned the baby snakes. I think I did it not long before they were supposed to hatch.
Out of curiousity how far from the waters edge were the eggs layed and what type of ground were they laid in?
Good Luck hatching em out and returning em back the wild, sounds like a nice head start for the babies.
They were laid on a steep slope near the pond. About 30 yards away. These are gravel pits and there are lots of piles of soil that is suitable for egg laying. The soil is not easy to dig in because of lots of rocks but the turtles seem to find good spots.
Bill
