How did you breed yours?

DeeDee · 09-01-2010, 11:43 AM

Hi Guy's, firstly I hope you all had a good Christmas and the weathers not causing you too many problems.

I know it's a bit early to ask this kind of question but I do like to be fully prepared! In a nut shell I am after your knowledge and experience on breeding Marginated's.

Since I last posted I have acquired a definate male.........he's a lovely big boy and I will be introducing him to my girlies in the spring

. I have no experience of breeding what so ever and the only equipment I have is a new Hova Bator, how have you used this with success, do you use wet/dry vermiculite? what temp? humidity? how long? I would be grateful for anything you can tell

Thank you in advance.

Dee

DeeDee · 11-01-2010, 07:31 PM

Awww..........I really thought id have replies by now, are they difficult to breed? .......anyone?

I'm getting worried now. Has anyone used the hova bator before? wet or dry vermiculite?

Dee

tortydat · 11-01-2010, 07:42 PM

Hello Dee
Not difficult to breed once you have a compatible pair. I use dry vermiculite with a bowl of water in the centre of the incubator and the temperature set around 31/32 degrees C.
Males can be very spiteful so you will have to keep an eye on your girls so that they don't get too stressed or damaged. Successful breeding can take quite a while.
Mary

DeeDee · 11-01-2010, 08:01 PM

Hi Mary thanks for your reply

, what humidity do you aim for?

Many Thanks

Dee

tortydat · 11-01-2010, 08:24 PM

Hi Dee
Sorry no idea just keep the bowl of water in the middle and top it up when it gets a bit low. Has worked for me for 25 years in hova-bators, Curfew and Brinsea incubators so must be OK!
Mary

Box girl · 11-01-2010, 08:39 PM

The temp of 31 to 32 degrees will give you grils and if lower you will get boys around 28 degrees. I am presuming you know not to turn the eggs and to make sure they stay in the same orientation to what they were laid in. Whta tortdat said is quiet correct about the bowl of water we do the same thing but if you wish the humidity should be around 75 - 80%. Timings are around 70-80 days at 31-32 slightly longer for 28 degrees.
I wish you luck in the spring!

tortydat · 11-01-2010, 10:26 PM

Although I always incubate for girls usually get a mix and mine take from 60 days at 31/32 degrees. Spring must be just around the corner so good luck!

Mary

**egyptiandan64** · 11-01-2010, 10:31 PM

How big are your females Dee?

You've got some very good advice about incubating. Just want to clarify about temperatures and sexes of the hatchlings. Anything above 30.5C will get more females than males (the higher the temperature (no higher than 32C) the higher the percentage of females). Below 30.5C will get more males than females (the lower the temperature (no lower than 28C) the higher percentage of males).

Danny

DeeDee · 11-01-2010, 10:32 PM

Thankyou Mary and Box girl, I have read everything else regarding egg laying and moving them but couldnt find enough info on the actual incubation of Margie's so thankyou both. I have a plan to make an egg laying area outside and another inside the tortoise shed (just in case) and then leave it up to them, hopefully one of my girls will take a fancy to him

Many thanks

Dee.

DeeDee · 11-01-2010, 11:16 PM

Thank you all for your advice........we shall see what spring brings, I feel alot happier now, just like to be prepared as I've picked up on a lot of posts where eggs have been found..........I couldnt stand the thought of being unable to help, well I'm sure you know what I mean.

Hi Dan, my girls range from around 16cm-20cm.

Dee

09-01-2010, 11:43 AM	#1
DeeDee Junior Member Egg Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The garden of England Posts: 29	How did you breed yours? Hi Guy's, firstly I hope you all had a good Christmas and the weathers not causing you too many problems. I know it's a bit early to ask this kind of question but I do like to be fully prepared! In a nut shell I am after your knowledge and experience on breeding Marginated's. Since I last posted I have acquired a definate male.........he's a lovely big boy and I will be introducing him to my girlies in the spring. I have no experience of breeding what so ever and the only equipment I have is a new Hova Bator, how have you used this with success, do you use wet/dry vermiculite? what temp? humidity? how long? I would be grateful for anything you can tell Thank you in advance. Dee

11-01-2010, 10:31 PM	#8
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	How big are your females Dee? You've got some very good advice about incubating. Just want to clarify about temperatures and sexes of the hatchlings. Anything above 30.5C will get more females than males (the higher the temperature (no higher than 32C) the higher the percentage of females). Below 30.5C will get more males than females (the lower the temperature (no lower than 28C) the higher percentage of males). Danny __________________

11-01-2010, 07:31 PM	#2
DeeDee Junior Member Egg Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The garden of England Posts: 29	Awww..........I really thought id have replies by now, are they difficult to breed? .......anyone? I'm getting worried now. Has anyone used the hova bator before? wet or dry vermiculite? Dee

11-01-2010, 07:42 PM	#3
tortydat Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 1,166	Hello Dee Not difficult to breed once you have a compatible pair. I use dry vermiculite with a bowl of water in the centre of the incubator and the temperature set around 31/32 degrees C. Males can be very spiteful so you will have to keep an eye on your girls so that they don't get too stressed or damaged. Successful breeding can take quite a while. Mary

11-01-2010, 08:01 PM	#4
DeeDee Junior Member Egg Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The garden of England Posts: 29	Hi Mary thanks for your reply , what humidity do you aim for? Many Thanks Dee

11-01-2010, 08:24 PM	#5
tortydat Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 1,166	Hi Dee Sorry no idea just keep the bowl of water in the middle and top it up when it gets a bit low. Has worked for me for 25 years in hova-bators, Curfew and Brinsea incubators so must be OK! Mary

11-01-2010, 08:39 PM	#6
Box girl Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Glos Posts: 1,326	The temp of 31 to 32 degrees will give you grils and if lower you will get boys around 28 degrees. I am presuming you know not to turn the eggs and to make sure they stay in the same orientation to what they were laid in. Whta tortdat said is quiet correct about the bowl of water we do the same thing but if you wish the humidity should be around 75 - 80%. Timings are around 70-80 days at 31-32 slightly longer for 28 degrees. I wish you luck in the spring!

11-01-2010, 10:26 PM	#7
tortydat Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 1,166	Although I always incubate for girls usually get a mix and mine take from 60 days at 31/32 degrees. Spring must be just around the corner so good luck! Mary

11-01-2010, 10:32 PM	#9
DeeDee Junior Member Egg Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The garden of England Posts: 29	Thankyou Mary and Box girl, I have read everything else regarding egg laying and moving them but couldnt find enough info on the actual incubation of Margie's so thankyou both. I have a plan to make an egg laying area outside and another inside the tortoise shed (just in case) and then leave it up to them, hopefully one of my girls will take a fancy to him Many thanks Dee.

11-01-2010, 11:16 PM	#10
DeeDee Junior Member Egg Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The garden of England Posts: 29	Thank you all for your advice........we shall see what spring brings, I feel alot happier now, just like to be prepared as I've picked up on a lot of posts where eggs have been found..........I couldnt stand the thought of being unable to help, well I'm sure you know what I mean. Hi Dan, my girls range from around 16cm-20cm. Dee

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