Red eared sliders (Terrapins)

[Savant]

We have a couple of these and they lay eggs from time to time.. All previous attempts to hatch the eggs have failed.

Anyone tried hatching tortoise eggs or know someone who knows how?

[Quixotic]

That should be interesting. What is the setup like? Any pictures of the eggs?

[celticfish]

Here's something I found ---> here
I'm sure there's more information avialable.

[Savant]

The terrapins belong to my girlfriend. They are over 10 years old and fairly large.
The setup is the balcony area of their flat, partitioned to prevent them from entering the living room area.

I have no pictures of the eggs but they are generally oval and slightly smaller than a ping pong ball. The eggs are off white with a tinge of yellow/orange.. So far we have tried various ways of incubating the eggs but to no avail.

[FishSoup]

My family's RES have also laid eggs.. we tried incubating the eggs in sand, but to no avail...

[Don90]

How you guys pick up the eggs?

The eggs have to be at the same position. its best not to turn over the eggs as the embryo in side might be crushed. Mark the egg with a marker to know which position to place it in. Reptile eggs are especially sensitive to this kinda things.

To check if the eggs are fertilised, use a torchlight and shine it on the egg. There should be a "band". And fertilised eggs are heavier.

And maybe you could place the eggs on perlite or vermiculite(sp?) because its sterile.

My 2 cents

[Savant]

Usually her mom discovers them and picks them up, by the time I see them, they will already be in a box

[Don90]

Hmm....try not to let the eggs roll on their sides, its bad for the embryo and it might even be crushed.

[Savant]

Okay. I am setting up a hatchery in anticipation of the next time they lay eggs (apparently they just laid another batch 2 weeks ago)...

What does perlite or vermiculite(sp?) look like and where can I buy it?

[900801]

erm,first you have to be sure you have a pair.Then when you see the turtle lay eggs you must use a marker to mark the turtle eggs so as not to confuse your self with the position because like what Don90 said its quite true

How you guys pick up the eggs?

. Mark the egg with a marker to know which position to place it in. Reptile eggs are especially sensitive to this kinda things.

.I would advice you to just buy some soil and burry it occasionally misting it to keep the soil moist.

[Don90]

Okay. I am setting up a hatchery in anticipation of the next time they lay eggs (apparently they just laid another batch 2 weeks ago)...

What does perlite or vermiculite(sp?) look like and where can I buy it?

Perlite looks like tiny round white pellets, you can get from far east flora.

vermiculite looks abit brownish I think. should be able to get in plant nurseries.

[Gecko]

Try putting in a sand pit in the balcony for females to lay eggs.

Setup a 2 ft tank with less than half filled water, place a flat rock or brick in the middle. Have a clear plastic container filled with vermiculite or perlite, eggs can be buried leaving the top (where it was marked prior to pick up) exposed.

Have a heater set at about 30 degrees C totally submersed in the water. Cover the tank to keep humidity in. Visual check eggs for fungus couple of times a week and let in fresh air. Takes about 3 months.

[zyblack]

Heh Savant

Could you find out what are the RES being fed? Pure pellet diets or some special concoction? I have a couple of Ocadia Sinensis which I really hope to breed in the future so wonder what the diet they are on.

[Savant]

Commercial turtle food...Aquari brand I believe...

We have 2 pairs actually...