Premature at 77 days!
 

Hi all, i have not had any successful hatchlings for 5 years,
This year I hag one egg that I knew was fertile from the only girl that I have no babies from....
I was over the moon!
Yesterday I did the thing that everyone says don't do.....
the egg was 78 days old and my hatchlings from 5 years ago hatched at 56 days.
I was convinced it had died in shell so gently broke it open.....
I thought it was dead but suddenly the head moved! I was so shocked and devastated that I hadn't just waited!
I could see the yolk and knew it was still huge.
I was panicking a lot and came on here to see what to do!
I left it half in the shell and put it on damp paper as suggested, and put it back in the incubator.
This morning he still looks lively so I gently lifted him and the bottom shell came away exposing the yolk.
I now have him on an egg cup with damp tissue underneath.
Keeping everything crossed and hoping and praying he will be ok.
NEVER again will I be impatient!
Lesson leant and I sincerely hope it's not at the cost of this beautiful baby tortoise 😥😥😥

I would post pics but can't find the option

Temperature and humidity are the key for hatching at 56 days.
But sometimes some eggs develope a lot later. You could have left the egg, and the hatchling might have died in she'll. Always a hard decision. But if you do decide to open the egg, then have what you need handy to sort out large egg sacs.
Keep hatchling in the incubator, but occasionally drop water over the nares, so he she does not dehydrate.

Exelent advice from sandy as said the most important thing is to keep hydrated and don't let the tissue dry out or the yolk sack will stick to it and rupture.
I have had the same thing happen over the years several times and I use a bottle top with tissue paper as you can still bath them if you hold down the top that way the baby can get a good drink.:)

Thankyou both
I have been spraying him regularly with a fine water spray and kept up the humidity in the incubator.
5 years ago I used a hovabator with success but because the las 5 years nothing, I thought I'd give a vitapod( v expensive plant propagator a try)
It is fairly big and also will not go above 30 degrees which thinking about it now is probably the reason for delay.
M hoping that I can bath him later today or tomorrow as the yolk dos seem to be reducing in size.
Thankyou for your replies :)

The real danger is infection so make a nest of wet kitchen roll and leave hatchling in a separate clean tub in the dark in incubator. Sadly once the hatchling has straightened whatever is remaining of the sac will not be absorbed. This is the crucial time either infection will set in or the remaining yolk sac will dry up and drop off. About 30 years ago I hatched a clutch of hermans and several were like this. When I could no longer keep them in the egg I put them in a small heat aquarium with no substrate sitting on blobs of ky jelly I sprayed them lightly with water. After a few days they were dragging their rather red looking sacs around. One of them started nipping at his siblings sac . I went to my vet who gave me wound dressing powder which helped the sacs dry up and I kept them on dry kitchen roll . So every danger of infection if kept in incubator for to long so should have straightened after a couple of days then needs to be moved into a clean environment . Several baths a day to prevent dehydration. Be careful very slippery when wet.use ky jelly so they don't stick to tub or glass and helps to keep infection at bay. Mine survived in fact Nipper has fathered many hatchlings. I wish every success.

Thankyou so much.
Should I move him from the incubator even if sac is not fully absorbed?
Just worried as getting colder now.
I have a megaray lamp but don't wasn't to dry him out too much.
Currently sitting on a nest of wet kitchen roll on an egg cup.
Not attempting to move off at all.
Sac is just yellow,not red at all.

If the sac is still reducing stick with it for now. Without seeing the condition of his yolk sac it is difficult to advise you. I know infection is a real danger and the incubator can be full of bacteria. I dont advise a combi lamp these only really work well in an open table. If this is all you have then a separate tub so he is well away from any direct heat. What is needed really is a good background heat. I f you have to use the incubator then make sure tub is very clean and you have jelly or I believe Sandy has used Vaseline, one hatchling in a tub may be ok. Please be careful when handling and bath in lukewarm clean water.

Thankyou
I'll let you know how he does

The hatchling is better off in the incubator, as it's dark and therefore the hatchling is less likely to move around too much. If he/was in full light they would be inclined to move more.