Advice on Chaco egg incubation

001 · 02-03-2012, 05:31 PM

Hi guys. My turtle is about to lay her second batch this year, and I'm looking for some info on how to incubate the eggs.

I have an exo terra heat mat & a thermostat, and I'm planning to use them to make an incubator.
I know about the diapause period, but little else. What substrate should I use? How much humidity should I be aiming for?

And the incubation temps...
as far as I can gather, its about 30c, for all females, and 27 for males. Is that correct?

Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks in advance

**egyptiandan64** · 02-03-2012, 07:38 PM

Hopefully you will be able to get hatchlings

Here is my experience.

You need to incubate for a month at 30C, than cool the eggs to 16C for 3 months, than back in the incubator at 30C or lower. It should take about 8 months all together to get hatchling. If (after you put the eggs back in the incubator after the cooling period) you don't see any development after a month, lower your incubation temperature by 1 degree C. I hatched on a dry incubation medium and the humidity was around 75%.

Danny

001 · 05-03-2012, 01:31 PM

Thanks! I hope they hatch this time... it's very difficult.

**egyptiandan64** · 05-03-2012, 03:08 PM

I do know this

When I take temperatures in the incubator I'm using a temperature gun and taking the temperature of the egg itself. I've found that if the egg gets over 30C (egg shell temperature) the egg won't develop. I've tried to keep the egg shell temperatures between 29 and 30C. I lost quite a few eggs before I figured out that they wouldn't develop at the higher temperatures.

Danny

001 · 31-12-2012, 03:19 PM

Well, after 8+ months, all 4 eggs hatched successfully.

3 of them hatched about 2 weeks ago, and the last one came out yesterday.
Thanks for the tips Danny!

I was thinking in upgrading my home made incubator a bit... but it worked so well that
I'll probably leave it as is (aside from installing a raspberry pi with a webcam to record the next batch hatching).

One of them, refuses to eat, but drinks a lot of water.
She still has a bit of (dry) yolk in her belly, but its been 2 weeks already since.
Is this normal? What should I do?

**egyptiandan64** · 31-12-2012, 07:11 PM

That's excellent news

and glad I could help.

It is normal for some hatchlings to take a while to start eating. Is she in with the other 2 that are eating? Does the bit of dried yolk sack on the belly look like it's healing properly?

Danny

Easter Bunny · 01-01-2013, 11:41 AM

Congratulations! Can we see photos please?

001 · 02-01-2013, 03:25 PM

Nevermind, she's eating now

The others are more active but I suppose she'll get better now.

This is the last one to hatch:

For the next clutch, I plan to set up a cam to get the exact moment when they break the egg. I've Never seen a video of that.

Ozric Jonathan · 03-01-2013, 07:12 PM

What a great result! It clearly requires patience to breed these lovely tortoises.

02-03-2012, 05:31 PM	#1
001 Junior Member Egg Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 13	Advice on Chaco egg incubation Hi guys. My turtle is about to lay her second batch this year, and I'm looking for some info on how to incubate the eggs. I have an exo terra heat mat & a thermostat, and I'm planning to use them to make an incubator. I know about the diapause period, but little else. What substrate should I use? How much humidity should I be aiming for? And the incubation temps... as far as I can gather, its about 30c, for all females, and 27 for males. Is that correct? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance

02-03-2012, 07:38 PM	#2
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Hopefully you will be able to get hatchlings Here is my experience. You need to incubate for a month at 30C, than cool the eggs to 16C for 3 months, than back in the incubator at 30C or lower. It should take about 8 months all together to get hatchling. If (after you put the eggs back in the incubator after the cooling period) you don't see any development after a month, lower your incubation temperature by 1 degree C. I hatched on a dry incubation medium and the humidity was around 75%. Danny __________________

05-03-2012, 03:08 PM	#4
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	I do know this When I take temperatures in the incubator I'm using a temperature gun and taking the temperature of the egg itself. I've found that if the egg gets over 30C (egg shell temperature) the egg won't develop. I've tried to keep the egg shell temperatures between 29 and 30C. I lost quite a few eggs before I figured out that they wouldn't develop at the higher temperatures. Danny __________________

31-12-2012, 07:11 PM	#6
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	That's excellent news and glad I could help. It is normal for some hatchlings to take a while to start eating. Is she in with the other 2 that are eating? Does the bit of dried yolk sack on the belly look like it's healing properly? Danny __________________

01-01-2013, 11:41 AM	#7
Easter Bunny Senior Member Adult Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Kent Posts: 5,337	Congratulations! Can we see photos please? __________________ Lynne x

05-03-2012, 01:31 PM	#3
001 Junior Member Egg Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 13	Thanks! I hope they hatch this time... it's very difficult.

31-12-2012, 03:19 PM	#5
001 Junior Member Egg Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 13	Well, after 8+ months, all 4 eggs hatched successfully. 3 of them hatched about 2 weeks ago, and the last one came out yesterday. Thanks for the tips Danny! I was thinking in upgrading my home made incubator a bit... but it worked so well that I'll probably leave it as is (aside from installing a raspberry pi with a webcam to record the next batch hatching). One of them, refuses to eat, but drinks a lot of water. She still has a bit of (dry) yolk in her belly, but its been 2 weeks already since. Is this normal? What should I do?

02-01-2013, 03:25 PM	#8
001 Junior Member Egg Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 13	Nevermind, she's eating now The others are more active but I suppose she'll get better now. This is the last one to hatch: For the next clutch, I plan to set up a cam to get the exact moment when they break the egg. I've Never seen a video of that.

03-01-2013, 07:12 PM	#9
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	What a great result! It clearly requires patience to breed these lovely tortoises. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

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