Graeca graecas 1st Clutch Of Eggs... From TT

[sarah]

...Well what a surprise this was, I really do keep a sharp eye on my females, because with all this warm weather, they are bound to lay some eggs! I have a couple of females fretting, but this one only showed signs of fretting for 2 to 3 days (and I am talking subtle signs, the untrained eye may not of picked up on them!)...I came home about 4.00pm today and she was half way through digging a suitable nest area :shock: , by 5.30pm she had finished :shock: !...so approx. 2 hours fom start to finish, that is quite quick :wink: !...She laid 8 eggs, but one did break (see photo)...but will they be fertile this year, that is the question :? ?! Also I have included a close up of 2 of the eggs because they show what looks like calcified spots? which I have not seen before :? !...T.T. 8)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a85/444888999/1tortggk.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a85/444888999/1tortggj.jpg http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a85/444888999/1tortggg.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a85/444888999/1tortggf.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a85/444888999/1tortgge.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a85/444888999/1tortggd.jpg

[terrific tortoises]

Thanks for this thread being put back up sarah, I thought it was lost forever :? :wink: ...T.T. 8)

[sarah]

I found it just for you TT :D

[veebee]

Still amazing even on second viewing!!!

Vivienne

[piglet]

Was going to ask if they were fertile but you don't candle good look TT fingers crossed for fertility
Darren

[carl20]

y dont u candle???

[terrific tortoises]

sarah and veebee, thanks guys...

piglet, I still do not know if they are fertile because the eggs are buried and I do not like to disturb them till they are past the 50 day period. I have to say though that I am not expecting too many hatchlings this year (last year was absolutely amazing for hatchlings) I think that the cold start to spring didnt help either. Although I have had 7 females lay (4 in June) a lot of the eggs appear calcified, which is strange because most of my females laid last year, some 2 clutches!...

carl19, see my answer to piglet above...T.T. 8)

[carl20]

ok i thought you were gunna be supersticious or something

[aprillinda]

i am rally glad this thread is back

tt what do u mean by calcifying eggs, i saw like nodules on some eggs but do not know what that means

u seem to do things quite naturally i think that is good but have been told otherwise before

good luck for the torts with the eggs :lol: :lol: :lol:

after the l;ady lays does she come back and check on the eggs?

bye the way your art is GREAT :lol: :lol:

[terrific tortoises]

aprillinda, If a female does not lay her eggs from 1 year to the next (which is quite often the case) each year the eggs could get another layer of calcium, short term this is not a problem, but long term, there could be problems. A normal eggs is nice and smooth, an over calcified egg has an uneven surface with lines and ridges etc. So if my females laid 1 to 2 clutches last year, theoretically they should not lay over calcified eggs? My theory is, they may well have had a 3rd clutch off eggs that they carried through their hibernation?

I cannot say if a female checks her nest/egg site some time after she lays, but she could (and does) lay in the exact same spot each year.

Thanks about the signature comment, I am a bit "arty farty"...T.T. 8)