Pancake Tortoise egg incubation poll...

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Tortoise Forum ]

Posted by Matt J. on April 27, 2002 at 13:16:14:

Hey, all,

I'd like to get a thread going here about different methods of Pancake Tortoise egg incubation. I'd like to hear about set up, materials, incubation medium, humidity, etc... from anyone who has hatched them. I've had limited success over the years and still wonder if there is a "best" method to maximize the number of hatchlings.

My setup: I use Hovabator styrofoam incubators. I put down a moist layer of vermiculite on the bottom (clumps well when squeezed). I then place an egg in a clear, pre-drilled display type deli cup with only slightly moist vermiculite. I keep the depth of the egg to about half way into the medium. The ambient humidity comes from the vermiculite on the bottom of the incubator. Temps are kept from around 87 to 90 on a constant basis. I'm also going to try a method very similar to what Victor Loehr has used where an open container is used for each egg. The vermiculite is relatively dry (3:1 ratio of vermiculite to water by weight) and temps are 87 to 90 (32 C.) for 12 hours during the day and drop to 77 to 80 (25 C.) at night (12 hours). I'm going to bury the egg completely in the relatively dry vermiculite and keep ambient humidity up in the incubator with a deli cup of two half full of water.

Any thoughts, input or opinions appreciated. Maybe if we get enough posts here we may see some trend from keepers with more successful incubation methods. Also, if anyone has any links to detailed information, please post them. What I can find on the internet is pretty basic and lacking on exact details for the most part.

Thanks

Matt

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: Hey, all, : I'd like to get a thread going here about different methods of Pancake Tortoise egg incubation. I'd like to hear about set up, materials, incubation medium, humidity, etc... from anyone who has hatched them. I've had limited success over the years and still wonder if there is a "best" method to maximize the number of hatchlings. : My setup: I use Hovabator styrofoam incubators. I put down a moist layer of vermiculite on the bottom (clumps well when squeezed). I then place an egg in a clear, pre-drilled display type deli cup with only slightly moist vermiculite. I keep the depth of the egg to about half way into the medium. The ambient humidity comes from the vermiculite on the bottom of the incubator. Temps are kept from around 87 to 90 on a constant basis. I'm also going to try a method very similar to what Victor Loehr has used where an open container is used for each egg. The vermiculite is relatively dry (3:1 ratio of vermiculite to water by weight) and temps are 87 to 90 (32 C.) for 12 hours during the day and drop to 77 to 80 (25 C.) at night (12 hours). I'm going to bury the egg completely in the relatively dry vermiculite and keep ambient humidity up in the incubator with a deli cup of two half full of water. : Any thoughts, input or opinions appreciated. Maybe if we get enough posts here we may see some trend from keepers with more successful incubation methods. Also, if anyone has any links to detailed information, please post them. What I can find on the internet is pretty basic and lacking on exact details for the most part. : Thanks : Matt

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Tortoise Forum ]