Welcome to Tortoise Forum!

jrcrist4 · 09-10-2012, 06:35 PM

This is a fascinating species. Congratulations on your success, I hope they fertile for you.

John

**tortadise** · 09-10-2012, 06:39 PM

Thanks. Me too. The male is a proven breeder, and he proves it to me daily. Ha. I will candle them in a week or so and see where they stand.

bigred · 09-10-2012, 10:00 PM

(09-10-2012 07:51 AM)tortadise Wrote: They are a once a year layer. august-september is when mine drops and that is all. One clutch and its over for the year. But obviously HUGE clutches. I think the record is like 72 eggs at once. Its not like my reds,yellows, or anything else that lays good clutches. This took all day. She started diggin up her nest around 8:30 was about 18-20" deep laid 10 eggs, covered them up, then moved a little to the right laid 8 eggs covered them up, and kept adding to the pile of nesting material. Each session of egg placement took about 2 hours. About 2-8 minutes in between each egg. Its very difficult grabing these because not only are they soft, shes right over them "placeing them perfectly. I almost wanted to leave some in the nest to see if that would work, but come november it starts getting pretty cool at night so I decided to put all them in 2 incubators. So keep a look out for some baby mountains posted around christmas. They will be nice and well started by then.

Thanks for the info, Its amazing how the different species vary as far as egg laying goes. I hope you get some little torts out of that clutch

Benjamin · 09-11-2012, 06:36 AM

Congrats! That is most excellent. I look forward to hearing about their progress.

**Jacqui** · 09-11-2012, 07:34 AM

She was trying to hold off laying until she was in her new home, but somebody seems to think he needs to sleep sometimes. Cool

**tortadise** · 09-11-2012, 08:16 AM

ha yeah. She is still gaurding the nest and added quite the leaves and branches to it. I do need some sleep.

TheTortoiseWhisperer · 09-11-2012, 08:23 AM

(09-10-2012 07:51 AM)tortadise Wrote: They are a once a year layer. august-september is when mine drops and that is all. One clutch and its over for the year. But obviously HUGE clutches. I think the record is like 72 eggs at once. Its not like my reds,yellows, or anything else that lays good clutches. This took all day. She started diggin up her nest around 8:30 was about 18-20" deep laid 10 eggs, covered them up, then moved a little to the right laid 8 eggs covered them up, and kept adding to the pile of nesting material. Each session of egg placement took about 2 hours. About 2-8 minutes in between each egg. Its very difficult grabing these because not only are they soft, shes right over them "placeing them perfectly. I almost wanted to leave some in the nest to see if that would work, but come november it starts getting pretty cool at night so I decided to put all them in 2 incubators. So keep a look out for some baby mountains posted around christmas. They will be nice and well started by then.

CONGRATULATIONSSSSS Kelly!!!! Are you planning on selling them??? if so, will you consider shipping them???

**tortadise** · 09-11-2012, 10:46 AM

(09-11-2012 08:23 AM)TheTortoiseWhisperer Wrote:
(09-10-2012 07:51 AM)tortadise Wrote: They are a once a year layer. august-september is when mine drops and that is all. One clutch and its over for the year. But obviously HUGE clutches. I think the record is like 72 eggs at once. Its not like my reds,yellows, or anything else that lays good clutches. This took all day. She started diggin up her nest around 8:30 was about 18-20" deep laid 10 eggs, covered them up, then moved a little to the right laid 8 eggs covered them up, and kept adding to the pile of nesting material. Each session of egg placement took about 2 hours. About 2-8 minutes in between each egg. Its very difficult grabing these because not only are they soft, shes right over them "placeing them perfectly. I almost wanted to leave some in the nest to see if that would work, but come november it starts getting pretty cool at night so I decided to put all them in 2 incubators. So keep a look out for some baby mountains posted around christmas. They will be nice and well started by then.

Thank you. This one of the species that I call a provisionary sellable animal. Seeing thag they are engangered in the homeland and pose difficulties for people to produce theu will be sold (some of the babies) to the right owners, willing to contribute to studbook s and future conservation efforts with this species.

Of course shipping is done.

CONGRATULATIONSSSSS Kelly!!!! Are you planning on selling them??? if so, will you consider shipping them???

**tortadise** · 09-12-2012, 06:30 PM

She is still making sure the "eggs" in the nest are covered. All day she keeps adding to it. The nest is now TWICE the size before she laid them. Im going to have to add another layer of stone to the hide. The nest is almost 28" tall now.

mattgrizzlybear · 09-17-2012, 04:13 PM

CONGRATS!

qgm · 09-19-2012, 06:40 AM

hehe I want to see her...

**tortadise** · 09-19-2012, 07:08 AM

Candeling last night shows some development in about 70% of the eggs. Still a bit early to really know. But time will tell when or if they start pippin in another 60 days or so.

Moozilion · 09-19-2012, 08:01 AM

Good luck!!! Here's hoping! :-)

safari_lass1 · 10-05-2012, 11:03 AM

This is awesome!! Congrats Smile

)

**tortadise** · 10-05-2012, 11:06 AM

(10-05-2012 11:03 AM)safari_lass1 Wrote: This is awesome!! Congrats )

Thank yah. So far so good. Some are showing no developement but lots are. Almost half way through. Maybe thanksgiving time they will hatch.