2 Headed Tortoise!

PATMAN · 03-01-2009, 11:40 AM

Some of you may have already seen this amazing hatchling but I wanted to share it with those who haven't. Aquatic 2 headed turtles are fairly common, but 2 headed tortoises are almost unheard of with only a few in the world.

This Macedonian Mountain Hermanns tortoise hatchling was produced by a private North American breeder. He states: "I have a young 1.4 colony in their second year of breeding. I was shocked on Valentines Day this year when I had twins hatch from a single egg. But not as much as on Nov 10th 2008 when a 2 headed baby hatched from the same colony. I can't imagine what is next. Now over a month later, it is still doing fine and eating with both heads at the same time. It is not for sale at this time".

Some may think this tortoise should be put down because of it's birth defect, but I hope this "special" tortoise continues to thrive and grows into adulthood. After all, it doesn't know it's any different, it just knows it's a tortoise!

I would like to thank the breeder who gave me permission to use his photographs.

cazzykins · 03-01-2009, 11:49 AM

Aww what a cute little guy! I've seen 2 headed turtles before, but not torts! I didn't realise you could get twins from 1 egg either! Learn something new everyday.

linda · 03-01-2009, 03:06 PM

he is lovely

im wishing him a full and happy life

here is a link to janus who will be 11 or 12 now

http://spluch.blogspot.com/2007/09/m...-tortoise.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...k45/index.html

http://www.euphoria-magazine.com/nat...9-turtle-janus

Paulg1 · 03-01-2009, 05:35 PM

No matter how many times I see this it still blows me away.

beckyzazou · 03-01-2009, 06:43 PM

Well, it's a case of you can give him every chance that you can, I'm sure that he will live a long happy life. Torts don't call one another names like us humans!!!

Sylvia1 · 03-01-2009, 09:02 PM

That's incredible - everything deserves a chance

cassie333 · 03-01-2009, 09:34 PM

hi cazzykins, i have had 2 parrot chicks hatch from the same egg, so i suppose any egg laying creature can have a bouble yolker,where both babies survive, it is definately miraculous to watch!!!!!

anna m · 04-01-2009, 03:05 PM

I've read about these things happening. Amazing

cazzykins · 04-01-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassie333

hi cazzykins, i have had 2 parrot chicks hatch from the same egg, so i suppose any egg laying creature can have a bouble yolker,where both babies survive, it is definately miraculous to watch!!!!!

Wow that's really cool! Were they smaller than the other parrots? I'm not good with science at all, but I think I understand how it works. Think I'm off to google to find out more, I love learning new things

As long as it doesn't confuse me, I'm a blonde at heart I think!

03-01-2009, 11:40 AM	#1
PATMAN Member Incubating Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Williamsport, Pennsylvania - USA Posts: 135	2 Headed Tortoise! Some of you may have already seen this amazing hatchling but I wanted to share it with those who haven't. Aquatic 2 headed turtles are fairly common, but 2 headed tortoises are almost unheard of with only a few in the world. This Macedonian Mountain Hermanns tortoise hatchling was produced by a private North American breeder. He states: "I have a young 1.4 colony in their second year of breeding. I was shocked on Valentines Day this year when I had twins hatch from a single egg. But not as much as on Nov 10th 2008 when a 2 headed baby hatched from the same colony. I can't imagine what is next. Now over a month later, it is still doing fine and eating with both heads at the same time. It is not for sale at this time". Some may think this tortoise should be put down because of it's birth defect, but I hope this "special" tortoise continues to thrive and grows into adulthood. After all, it doesn't know it's any different, it just knows it's a tortoise! I would like to thank the breeder who gave me permission to use his photographs. __________________ Patrick Warning: Don't Feed Tortoises Hot Chili Peppers!!! My Box Turtle web site: http://www.freewebs.com/cbboxies/

03-01-2009, 03:06 PM	#3
linda Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: west midlands Posts: 17,134	he is lovely im wishing him a full and happy life here is a link to janus who will be 11 or 12 now http://spluch.blogspot.com/2007/09/m...-tortoise.html http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...k45/index.html http://www.euphoria-magazine.com/nat...9-turtle-janus Last edited by linda; 03-01-2009 at 03:11 PM.

03-01-2009, 05:35 PM	#4
Paulg1 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 2,116	No matter how many times I see this it still blows me away. __________________ 0.1.0 G. sulcata/Larry 0.1.0 G. pardalis babcocki/Leo 1.0.0 G. pardalis pardalis/Tino "Stop the world, I want to get off!"

03-01-2009, 09:02 PM	#6
Sylvia1 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Somerset Posts: 2,465	That's incredible - everything deserves a chance __________________ Sylvia 3 hermanns, 2 leopards, 2 german shepherds, 5 cats, 3 tropical tanks

03-01-2009, 11:49 AM	#2
cazzykins Member Hatched Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Aylesbury Posts: 474	Aww what a cute little guy! I've seen 2 headed turtles before, but not torts! I didn't realise you could get twins from 1 egg either! Learn something new everyday.

03-01-2009, 06:43 PM	#5
beckyzazou Member Hatched Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lancs, Bolton Posts: 263	Well, it's a case of you can give him every chance that you can, I'm sure that he will live a long happy life. Torts don't call one another names like us humans!!!

03-01-2009, 09:34 PM	#7
cassie333 Member Egg Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: morecambe, lancashire. Posts: 83	hi cazzykins, i have had 2 parrot chicks hatch from the same egg, so i suppose any egg laying creature can have a bouble yolker,where both babies survive, it is definately miraculous to watch!!!!!

04-01-2009, 03:05 PM	#8
anna m Senior Member Adult Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 4,091	I've read about these things happening. Amazing

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)