A new page has been added to our web site on incubation of tortoise eggs.  It is primarily concerned with getting the incubator set up properly to ensure as far as possible the breeder achieves a successful hatching rate.

Breeders on the TPG approved breeders list were involved in providing information which helped inform the guidelines in this article which can be found here: http://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/156.asp

We hope you find it useful.

Helen

Hi Helen

You mention that you use a hovibator to incubate your eggs.  I just wanted to alert anyone that may, like myself, obtain a still air hovibator to incubate.  I recently set mine up to 32 degrees using the red flat type of thermometre that came with the incubator and carefully placed our eggs collected on Friday within the vermiculite inside a plastic tub box.  As suggested with the instructions we place the flat thermometre lightly on top of the eggs so we could monitor the static 32 degrees.  Fortunately I decided to order a probe type of digital thermometre so the temperature was easier to view from the outside of the inclubator and this arrived today (Tuesday).  Upon putting the probe inside the incubater I was staggered as it quickly reached its temperature peaking at 33.4 degrees - you can imagine my distress as the original thermometre was still showing a steady 32.  I then obtained a second digital thermometre which gave the same reading of 33.4.  This means that the thermometre supplied with the hovibator is completely inaccurate and I just want to warn any new breeders like myself against making the same mistake.  Unfotunately, our eggs arrived so quickly we did not have time to do our research and just assumed that the included thermometre would be accurate so BEWARE!  Consequently I now have to spend 9 weeks of worry wondering how incubating at such a high temperature may have damaged our first batch of eggs -  any advice on this would be much appreciated.  Many thanks, Nicole    

Hi Nicole,

33.4 will be fine - I've had my temps go this high before.

I always use a max/min thermometer and don't rely on the thermometer supplied by Hovabator. I also a Haar Synth hygrometer to measure the humidity. I always fill all the water sections in the bottom of the Hovabator and with slight misting every couple of days manage to attain a pretty stable 70% humidity.

HTH
Darren

Hi Darren

Many thanks for your reply and that is very reassuring, I can't tell you how stressed we have been about it.  Consequently, I was interested to read that you fill the water sections of the hovibator to attain 70% humidity - would this be the expected humidity for Hermans tortoise?

Thanks for your help...can't recommend this site enough...thank you TPG

Nicole 

Hi Nicole,

It is:-)

If the humidity is wrong, the albumen in the egg dries out which often leads to "dead-in-shell" babies. It's a good idea to invest in a good hygrometer (I use Haar Synth). Many of the didgital hygrometers give completely the wrong reading. Please don't hesitate to get back to us if you require any further info & good luck with the eggs:-)

HTH
Darren