Had 2 more dead-in-shell babies today. I can't think what went wrong, but little Buddha is absolutely fine so I don't think it's been an error, just 'one of those things.' It is an odd year for sure.
(08-14-2010 05:44 PM)tortoise_dude Wrote: [ -> ]Had 2 more dead-in-shell babies today. I can't think what went wrong, but little Buddha is absolutely fine so I don't think it's been an error, just 'one of those things.' It is an odd year for sure.
Very, very sad to hear this Josh. As you say it's been an odd year. I had one year, years ago with only one viable baby too. Don't get downhearted about it, as most breeders will have a similar story to tell if they admit to it
Big hugs
If I think if people can learn from it then I'm not afraid to post it. I know there are a few people on here waiting to watch the egg-cam again so I thought I'd keep them informed. Thanks Sue
(08-14-2010 05:44 PM)tortoise_dude Wrote: [ -> ]Had 2 more dead-in-shell babies today. I can't think what went wrong, but little Buddha is absolutely fine so I don't think it's been an error, just 'one of those things.' It is an odd year for sure.
Hi Josh, soo sorry to hear such sad news.
Thanks everyone. It's sad in the fact that a tortoise has lost it's life but I have said from the start that it happens when you breed anything and that you 'shouldn't count your torts before they hatch' so-to-speak. I would think it is an error on my part but as Buddha hatched at such a good weight and exactly on time, I don't think the incubation method was incorrect.
One baby had completely absorbed the yolk sack and had worn down the egg tooth, the 2nd had had egg tooth and was absolutely covered in albumen, but the yolk sack had gone mouldy. They where not overdue except for a few days, but I opened the 2nd as the first exploded.
hi Josh.im really sorry to see this happen to a caring keeper like yourself.as Sue has said these things happen to us all just not everyone admits it.i have my suspicions when one egg hatched so early but im sure you will go through everything to ensure it cant happen again.recheck humidity hermans are fairly resiliant in the egg but if the humidity is very high the moisture can cause the membrane to thicken.also double check the thermometer against another i never had anything hatch as early as yours did.
terry
Oh Josh i am so sorry. Big hugs to you.
The thermometer has been calibrated in Ice water which is why I'm at a loss to what went wrong. Exactly the same conditions as last year, all of which hatched perfectly. It's very odd and upsetting. Hopefully next year will be more successful. Buddha also hatched exactly on time and is thriving. Judging by the size of the two dead in shell babies, I would guess that they died around the same time the early one began to hatch.
I wafted the incubator to allow air exchange for around 30 seconds each day.
(08-15-2010 05:39 PM)tortoise_dude Wrote: [ -> ]The thermometer has been calibrated in Ice water which is why I'm at a loss to what went wrong. Exactly the same conditions as last year, all of which hatched perfectly. It's very odd and upsetting. Hopefully next year will be more successful. Buddha also hatched exactly on time and is thriving. Judging by the size of the two dead in shell babies, I would guess that they died around the same time the early one began to hatch.
I wafted the incubator to allow air exchange for around 30 seconds each day.
everthing you say points towards a lack of oxygen with only one being strong enough at that stage of development to break out.i suspect a sudden rise in humidity effectively suffocating the two trapped in thier shells.it is so hard to be sure what happened but i dont think it was just one of those things and i would want to be sure it wont happen again.
terry
The amount of time that the incubator was open to allow air exchange, I honestly don't think it could have been a lack of oxygen to the eggs. Humidity as usual, around 70%.