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egg laying
Posted: 29/09/2009 by donnafj

hi all

our hermann as laid one egg on the ground of the greenhouse some two weeks ago which we have put into a incubater.we believe she is still carrying eggs and have tried to encourage her but with no joy. we have heard of a method which involves placing her in a box with a heat lamp in a dark room and was wondering if any of you folk could elaborate on this method ? eg. box size,temperture,time of day,and subtrate.

many thanks

donna & paul


hi all

our hermann has laid one egg on the ground of the greenhouse some two weeks ago which we have put into a incubater.we believe she is still carrying eggs and have tried to encourage her but with no joy. we have heard of a method which involves placing her in a box with a heat lamp in a dark room and was wondering if any of you folk could elaborate on this method ? eg. box size,temperture,time of day,and subtrate.

many thanks

donna & paul


Re: egg laying
Posted: 29/09/2009 by tpgarlene

Hi Donna, Paul

I have never tried this method, so cant really offer much advice Im afraid.  Substrate would need to be soil with a little sand mixed in, but not so sandy that the sides collapse if the tortoise does dig a nest.  I do find that a jug of warm water over a favoured nesting area, with a lamp over does work well.  If she still doesnt lay, please dont attempt to hibernate her until she has been checked for eggs by your vet (Xray) and induced if necessary.

All the best

Arlene TPG

Re: egg laying
Posted: 01/10/2009 by terrypin

hi i have used this method myself.i have a leopard who is a winter layer and as you can imagine it is difficult to get her warm enough to lay let along heating the nest site.what i have done is build an enclosure that is 6'x3' with  18" depth of substrate.the substrate is half sandy/soil and half moist irish moss peat.this needs to be turned before you put the tortoise in as damp peat can get moldy.i have a daylight tube to illuminate the area and have suspended one 250w inrared spotlight over the soil. i dont know what others do but this has worked for me the last two winters .i must add i havent used this for my meds so dont know how they would react .for the meds i have greenhouses  with soil substrate and heatlamps when neccessary.i must say i have never heard of anyone being sucessful doing this in a darkened room.

 

                                             terry

 

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