Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I found this 3-Toed hatchling while pulling weeds in my garden yesterday. Must be from a late 2010 clutch that I missed. I am guessing it spent the winter in its egg or at least in its burrow and never came up last year at all. This thing is 8 grams dirt inluded. I looked all over for its hatch mates with no luck. I am guessing they are still underground?

Allen Sheehan

My guess is that it hatched last year and either over-wintered in the nest or emerged and overwintered in the pen.

I agree. It is surley a 2010 baby as my adults are just now starting to emerge for the year. My guess it hatched in the nest and never emerged last year. The other challenge I have is I do not have a pen. The turtles have free run of the back yard so finding hatchlings is very difficult. I ususally will keep an eye on my females and track where they dig the nest and then pull the eggs and inubate artificially. The good thing is ther is no way for even a hatchling to get out of my yard. So if they go unnoticed its just a matter of time before I come accross them. This nest obviously went untoiced. Back in 2008 I found a pair of young ornates that were 40-50 grams that went unnoticed for several years. Box turtles still intrigue me after many years of working with them.

Allen Sheehan

Nice surprise!!!
-----
Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

I just had the same surprise. I found a 2010 hatchling in my outdoor enclosure just 5 minutes ago. I assume there are more, but I may not see them in all the leaf litter and ground cover.
-----
Greg Jackson