DIG UP OR LEAVE TORTOISE EGGS

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DIG UP OR LEAVE TORTOISE EGGS

Postby sheila » Sun Apr 01, 2012 1:53 pm

My tortoise laid her eggs in extreme hard ground about two weeks ago. Is it best to leave it in the garden and hope for the best - or should i carefully dig them up and bring them inside?
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Re: DIG UP OR LEAVE TORTOISE EGGS

Postby Jamster » Mon Apr 02, 2012 12:00 am

I'm assuming this is a leopard/mountain tortoise. It is best to leave the eggs :) I know it is human nature to take in animals and care for them (in most cases) but it would be better to leave them. Once the little tortoises hatch they still have a large yolk sac attached to the belly that will take several days to be absorbed. It is absorbed during the time the tortoise takes to dig out of the soil. I have seen maggots quickly penetrate the yolk if they are exposed prematurely above ground and the tortoise dies. If you are worried about the soil being to hard maybe gently dig up where the eggs were laid and fill it in with softer soil :) good luck :)
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Re: DIG UP OR LEAVE TORTOISE EGGS

Postby Bushviper » Mon Apr 02, 2012 1:49 pm

The mothers seem to know what they are doing. I would suggest you get a biggish aviary and place this over that area. That way when they hatch you can confine them to this area.
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