I'm in a tizz!!

emma_mcraf · 07-04-2013, 12:30 PM

Tabitha came to live with me in February. She's seven years old and has a SCL of 174mm and weighs 929g.

Last week she started to climb and was constantly on the go. I noticed yesterday that she was digging with her back legs and I started to wonder if she was gravid. I piled up a mound of topsoil in the corner of her table and have been keeping it warm and compact. She started digging again this morning, though at the bottom of her mound, where it's only about 4 inches deep (I've got it nice and deep at about 8 inches at the top).

The lady who owned Tabitha before me housed her on her own for the six months she had her, but prior to that I believe Tabitha was possibly kept with a male.

I'm in a bit of a panic as I haven't got an incubator and if I order one online, the earliest I'm going to get one delivered is Tuesday.
My local reptile shops don't keep them in stock either apart from the egg-o-bator http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/rept...or-318518.html, which I'm not sure about. I'd have ordered a hovabator if I had the time. I realise that it's better to get an incubator set up before the eggs arrive but I'm not sure if there'll be time.

Can anyone offer any help or advise please? Does she look gravid to anyone else and if any eggs arrived before I get an incubator would they be okay? I don't have an airing cupboard to put them in. Thanks.

**egyptiandan64** · 07-04-2013, 01:05 PM

She's gravid Emma

When she lays you can either leave them there or dig them up (putting them in a container with crumbled kitchen roll to prevent the eggs from rolling around). They will be fine at room temperature until you can set up the incubator.

Danny

emma_mcraf · 07-04-2013, 01:37 PM

Great, thanks Dan. What a surprise!!

I've just located a herp nursery 2 in a store not too far away. I'm going to go and pick one up and then I can get it set up ready for the eggs. A few more questions please...

How long could it take Tabitha to lay? Should I move her to where the soil is deeper or just leave her alone if she starts digging in shallower soil again?

Should I be aiming for 75% humidity and 32 degrees in the incubator?
(Tabitha is THB and I'm assuming the father is too...)

Do I put the eggs on dry vermiculite and then add another tub of warm water to get the humidity up?

I've read that it's a good idea to have a separate digital thermometer in addition to the herp nursery thermometer. I'm assuming it's fine for the wires to come out the door and it won't affect the humidity/temp of the incubator. (see how green I am about all this!!

)

Do I literally leave the eggs in the incubator and not need to open the door apart from when candling?

Thank you for your help.

**egyptiandan64** · 07-04-2013, 01:45 PM

Tortoises like to lay on the side of a hill

Can you add more soil to the base, so it's still a hill but not so much of a slope. That will give more depth at the base.

That's what you should shoot for temperature and humidity wise.

Yes to the third question

Yes it's a good idea and the wires coming out will be fine

Yes to the last question

Danny

emma_mcraf · 07-04-2013, 01:53 PM

Thank you Dan.

pagan queen · 07-04-2013, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emma_mcraf

Thank you Dan.

Oooo Emma how exciting for you. Good luck, hope everything goes well for you and Tabatha.

emma_mcraf · 07-04-2013, 04:24 PM

Herp nursery II is all set up and ready for action.

The chap at the shop was really helpful and threw in a bag of vermiculite and a hygrometer for free.

I've just poured some more hot water on the hill in Tabitha's table and she's sniffing around it. Any eggs she lays may not be fertile but I've got to give them the best possible chance just in case they are.

emma_mcraf · 07-04-2013, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pagan queen

Oooo Emma how exciting for you. Good luck, hope everything goes well for you and Tabatha.

Thanks Wendy. I wasn't planning on breeding for quite a few years so this has taken me by surprise. I feel more relaxed now I have an incubator here though.

Suze65 · 07-04-2013, 04:50 PM

Oh the patter of tiny feet

Catwoman63 · 07-04-2013, 04:54 PM

How exciting Emma, I hope they are fertile x

07-04-2013, 12:30 PM	#1
emma_mcraf Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 11,365	I'm in a tizz!! Tabitha came to live with me in February. She's seven years old and has a SCL of 174mm and weighs 929g. Last week she started to climb and was constantly on the go. I noticed yesterday that she was digging with her back legs and I started to wonder if she was gravid. I piled up a mound of topsoil in the corner of her table and have been keeping it warm and compact. She started digging again this morning, though at the bottom of her mound, where it's only about 4 inches deep (I've got it nice and deep at about 8 inches at the top). The lady who owned Tabitha before me housed her on her own for the six months she had her, but prior to that I believe Tabitha was possibly kept with a male. I'm in a bit of a panic as I haven't got an incubator and if I order one online, the earliest I'm going to get one delivered is Tuesday. My local reptile shops don't keep them in stock either apart from the egg-o-bator http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/rept...or-318518.html, which I'm not sure about. I'd have ordered a hovabator if I had the time. I realise that it's better to get an incubator set up before the eggs arrive but I'm not sure if there'll be time. Can anyone offer any help or advise please? Does she look gravid to anyone else and if any eggs arrived before I get an incubator would they be okay? I don't have an airing cupboard to put them in. Thanks. __________________ Emma Testudo Hermanni 5.12.2:Theo, Tamara, Tabitha, Harriet, Isabelle, Clara, Oscar, Hugo, Oliver, Florence, Arabella, Esmé, Aurelia, Felicia, Claudia, Atticus, Celestia, Amaris, Tristan and Clementine Budgies: Jasper, Ivo, Otis, Henry, Louie and Luca Doggies: 1.1.0 Chester and Lottie

07-04-2013, 01:05 PM	#2
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	She's gravid Emma When she lays you can either leave them there or dig them up (putting them in a container with crumbled kitchen roll to prevent the eggs from rolling around). They will be fine at room temperature until you can set up the incubator. Danny __________________ Last edited by egyptiandan64; 07-04-2013 at 01:39 PM.

07-04-2013, 01:37 PM	#3
emma_mcraf Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 11,365	Great, thanks Dan. What a surprise!! I've just located a herp nursery 2 in a store not too far away. I'm going to go and pick one up and then I can get it set up ready for the eggs. A few more questions please... How long could it take Tabitha to lay? Should I move her to where the soil is deeper or just leave her alone if she starts digging in shallower soil again? Should I be aiming for 75% humidity and 32 degrees in the incubator? (Tabitha is THB and I'm assuming the father is too...) Do I put the eggs on dry vermiculite and then add another tub of warm water to get the humidity up? I've read that it's a good idea to have a separate digital thermometer in addition to the herp nursery thermometer. I'm assuming it's fine for the wires to come out the door and it won't affect the humidity/temp of the incubator. (see how green I am about all this!!) Do I literally leave the eggs in the incubator and not need to open the door apart from when candling? Thank you for your help. __________________ Emma Testudo Hermanni 5.12.2:Theo, Tamara, Tabitha, Harriet, Isabelle, Clara, Oscar, Hugo, Oliver, Florence, Arabella, Esmé, Aurelia, Felicia, Claudia, Atticus, Celestia, Amaris, Tristan and Clementine Budgies: Jasper, Ivo, Otis, Henry, Louie and Luca Doggies: 1.1.0 Chester and Lottie

07-04-2013, 01:45 PM	#4
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Tortoises like to lay on the side of a hill Can you add more soil to the base, so it's still a hill but not so much of a slope. That will give more depth at the base. That's what you should shoot for temperature and humidity wise. Yes to the third question Yes it's a good idea and the wires coming out will be fine Yes to the last question Danny __________________

07-04-2013, 01:53 PM	#5
emma_mcraf Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 11,365	Thank you Dan. __________________ Emma Testudo Hermanni 5.12.2:Theo, Tamara, Tabitha, Harriet, Isabelle, Clara, Oscar, Hugo, Oliver, Florence, Arabella, Esmé, Aurelia, Felicia, Claudia, Atticus, Celestia, Amaris, Tristan and Clementine Budgies: Jasper, Ivo, Otis, Henry, Louie and Luca Doggies: 1.1.0 Chester and Lottie

07-04-2013, 04:24 PM	#7
emma_mcraf Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 11,365	Herp nursery II is all set up and ready for action. The chap at the shop was really helpful and threw in a bag of vermiculite and a hygrometer for free. I've just poured some more hot water on the hill in Tabitha's table and she's sniffing around it. Any eggs she lays may not be fertile but I've got to give them the best possible chance just in case they are. __________________ Emma Testudo Hermanni 5.12.2:Theo, Tamara, Tabitha, Harriet, Isabelle, Clara, Oscar, Hugo, Oliver, Florence, Arabella, Esmé, Aurelia, Felicia, Claudia, Atticus, Celestia, Amaris, Tristan and Clementine Budgies: Jasper, Ivo, Otis, Henry, Louie and Luca Doggies: 1.1.0 Chester and Lottie

07-04-2013, 04:50 PM	#9
Suze65 Senior Member Adult Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 6,769	Oh the patter of tiny feet __________________ Suze. 3 THB, Sammy, Jemima, & Phoebe 7 Marginated, Tabitha, Ptolome, Tatiana, Noah,Lottey, Lulu & Poppy 1 TGG (Emma) RIP Feb 2012

07-04-2013, 04:54 PM	#10
Catwoman63 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: South East England Posts: 6,739	How exciting Emma, I hope they are fertile x __________________ BEV XXX 0.3.0 - T Horsfieldii (Xena, Zelda & Lilly) 2.2.0 - TG Terrestris (Zeus, Astreus / Zagreus & Alexia) 1.2.0 - Zebra Finches (Gunner / Bonnie & May) 0.1.0 - SBT (Hazel) 1.0.0 - FBD (Ted)

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