Well  :-)  he/she is on its way out bin trying to get out since 8/30 this morning, head and front feet out having a little rest now I think before final push, seems to be stuck in there, WHAT do I do once he's out ? so many question, do I keep him in incubator untill fully hatched ? open incubator for more air ? give it some water obviously just a drip or do nothing and just watch and wait aaaaahhhhh HELP PLEASE, xxxx  cath 

Hi Cath,

How exciting, just calm down now!! lol  Let the baby come out on its own, DO NOT break the egg to take it out, there could be an egg sack still attached, the tort will take a day or two to break out, this give the egg sack time to be absorbed (it looks like the egg yolk, its what its been feeding on). While he is still like this in the egg leave him in the incubator, leave it closed, do you have other eggs still in there?

When he is out and walking about, weigh him, then put him in a dish of warm water just up to his chin, so he can drink.   Then you can put him straight in the tort table and put some food down, but dont worry if he doesnt eat, they usually take a day or two to start eating.  Make sure your basking lamp and uv are set up.

Hope this helps, regards Vivienne 

Hi Cath

Congratulations! Glad he/she didnt keep you waiting too long!

OK, you need to leave him in the incubator until he is fully hatched.  Dont be tempted to help him out at the stage and speed up the hatching.  Sometime the baby will part emerge, and then do nothing for several hours, this may be because he is still absorbing the egg sac, and remaining in the shell is the best place for him as the sac may rupture if he comes out too soon.  It may even be a couple of days before he is completely hatched.  Once he is fully out, place him in a shallow dish with some warmish water so that he can have a drink, they are normally really thirsty after hatching, then just put him into his new enclosure.  When mine are newly hatched, I use a towel as substrate for a few days before putting them onto sand/soil, just while their tummys heal over. 

Have you got a baby unit ready for him <g>

all the best

Arlene TPG

Ohh Thanks, what a day :-)  will be patient and have calmed down now, Breath :-) your advice is soooo appreciated , I do know what his new home will be like but haven't set it up just in case, you know tempting fate and all that, but will now,  :-) :-)

THANKS again cath xxxx