Turtle Eggs
July 9, 2010 1:42 PM Subscribe
My red-eared slider built a nest in my garden last week, dropped about ten eggs into it, then tamped it all down pretty firmly.
Now what?
I've looked through the pet forums, but all the ones I've found focus on moving the nest inside and nurturing the eggs myself. I'd rather take a more laissez-faire approach.
My questions are pretty simple:
- Should I keep the area watered so that the ground will be soft and the hatchlings can get out? Or are they tough enough to dig through hard earth?
- In captivity the turtle babies stick around the nest a few days. Do they do this in the wild (a.k.a my garden)? Or do I need to build an enclosure so they don't wander off into the street when they hatch?
My questions are pretty simple:
- Should I keep the area watered so that the ground will be soft and the hatchlings can get out? Or are they tough enough to dig through hard earth?
- In captivity the turtle babies stick around the nest a few days. Do they do this in the wild (a.k.a my garden)? Or do I need to build an enclosure so they don't wander off into the street when they hatch?
If there has not been a male slider involved, I suggest frying them, like Huck Finn.
posted by dirtdirt at 1:57 PM on July 9, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by dirtdirt at 1:57 PM on July 9, 2010 [2 favorites]
You should keep it watered, and probably enclose it. You didn't mention, though, if you have a male around...
posted by bolognius maximus at 2:19 PM on July 9, 2010
posted by bolognius maximus at 2:19 PM on July 9, 2010
Keep them warm. Or rather the sand around them warm. A heat lamp a couple of hours a day if they're in the shade might help, but don't bake the sand, and remember usually the mom knows as much about where to lay the eggs as you do.
It still isn't a guarantee, but for me warmth and less futzing has worked for me better than futzing and less warmth.
Also keep predictors away, a little chicken wire cover maybe. Good luck.
posted by Some1 at 3:26 PM on July 9, 2010
It still isn't a guarantee, but for me warmth and less futzing has worked for me better than futzing and less warmth.
Also keep predictors away, a little chicken wire cover maybe. Good luck.
posted by Some1 at 3:26 PM on July 9, 2010
Nobody waters wild turtles. If the soil is "normal" I'd leave it; if it's really hot where you are and your plants look wilty or it's especially hot/dry, I'd pretend to be rain and water them a little. Build an enclosure, for sure, just so you can see them better! Maybe make it coverable with something that latches down or is too heavy to lift or dislodge- I lost pet turtles to raccoons in my yard as a kid.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 3:37 PM on July 9, 2010
posted by pseudostrabismus at 3:37 PM on July 9, 2010
Response by poster: I'm in Honolulu, so warmth isn't an issue!
And there was a boy turtle involved. I knew what he was up to as soon as I saw him fluttering his claws in her face.
She buried the eggs in hard earth, which was the surprise. I'll just keep watering, surround the nest with chicken wire (which won't really stop rats, but it might keep the kids in), and see what happens.
posted by kanewai at 3:39 PM on July 9, 2010
And there was a boy turtle involved. I knew what he was up to as soon as I saw him fluttering his claws in her face.
She buried the eggs in hard earth, which was the surprise. I'll just keep watering, surround the nest with chicken wire (which won't really stop rats, but it might keep the kids in), and see what happens.
posted by kanewai at 3:39 PM on July 9, 2010
What do baby turtles eat? Should you maybe put some of that nearby?
posted by amtho at 4:14 PM on July 9, 2010
posted by amtho at 4:14 PM on July 9, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Having a smallish enclosure might not hurt. I'd give them an interesting environment to play around in though.
posted by Heretical at 1:53 PM on July 9, 2010