kingsnake.com - reptile and amphibian classifieds, breeders, forums, photos, videos and more

return to main index

  mobile - desktop
follow us on facebook follow us on twitter follow us on YouTube link to us on LinkedIn
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research  
click here for Rodent Pro
This Space Available
3 months for $50.00
Locate a business by name: click to list your business
search the classifieds. buy an account
events by zip code list an event
Search the forums             Search in:
News & Events: Herp Photo of the Day: Gecko . . . . . . . . . .  Herp Photo of the Day: Happy Rattlesnake Friday! . . . . . . . . . .  Tucson Herpetological Society Meeting - Jan 27, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Southwestern Herp Society Meeting - Feb 01, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Greater Cincinnati Herp Society Meeting - Feb 05, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Calusa Herp Society Meeting - Feb 06, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  St. Louis Herpetological Society - Feb 09, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Kentucky Reptile Expo - Feb. 15, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Colorado Herp Society Meeting - Feb 15, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Chicago Herpetological Society Meeting - Feb 16, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  San Diego Herp Society Meeting - Feb 18, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Suncoast Herp Society Meeting - Feb 22, 2025 . . . . . . . . . . 

Re: surprise hatchlings!! HELP!!


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

Posted by nathana on April 14, 2003 at 08:58:38:

In Reply to: Re: surprise hatchlings!! HELP!! posted by guamturtle on April 13, 2003 at 16:56:40:

In the future, avoid helping a turtle hatch. As I understand it from more scientific folk than myself, they have tiny blood vessels that run around the egg, and their slow hatching allows them to free themselves of connections to it and heal over time, rather than one large shock. In my own experience (since I know little of eggs or hatchling physiology) many hatchlings I've "helped" hatch have gotten ill or died soon after my assistance (before I was told not to by someone I trusted of course).

Congrats on the youngsters. I would highly recommend you start them off NOW with feeding in a separate container. It's so easy at this age, and you can use a very small container for it. Starting with it daily now, will also let them get comfortable with being moved, and knowing that food is available in the feeding bins. This helps when they begin to get hungry. I'm not sure for muds, but for basking aquatics and boxies usually a few days to a week after the disappearance of the yolk they will begin eating with gusto, instead of the few timid bites they take before that.

Good luck! (also, I find while they are getting their "sea legs" that using a cat litter pan with shallow water and a rock that I can clean every day is easier than setting up a tank with a filter and such suited to their weak bodies and ungainly swimming ability)


Follow Ups:




[ Follow Ups ] [ The Turtle Forum ]