New Gift From TortStork

shellfreak

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To my disappointment the Tortoise didn't make it. It pipped, but then died. Kevin discovered it this morning. It wasn't anything Kevin did wrong. His temps and humidity in the incubator were spot on.

I have some theories but would love to hear your scientific take on it. If you're going to respond that I shouldn't have shipped a fertile egg, please email me directly ([email protected]) to voice your opinion on that matter. No need to bog down a thread that we could all learn from with negativity. Full disclosure, i won't give up on this venture bc I truly think it's a niche that fills a void in tortoise owning. Watching a Tortoise hatch is an experience of a life time.

My theories are:
1. Darwin. Meaning, that it just wasn't supposed to survive regardless. I've had a bunch of eggs that developed and then stopped for some unknown reason. This is the clutch mate of another egg that I shipped out to TJ, whose tortoise is doing amazing with no issues. So maybe this one in nature would have never gotten this far to begin with. But with assisted incubation it developed further along then it was supposed to.
2. The tortoise wasn't completely developed and the pressure of the plane caused the egg to expand and the tortoise pipped too soon and it wasn't old enough to breath real air.
3. The upright shipping indicator was positive, which means at some point the box was turned upside down. Hard to predict how long it was upside for. If it was a long period of time, the air sac in the egg could have been damaged.

These are just some of my thoughts. Would love to know what your thoughts are?

ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1506101982.604371.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1506101990.605752.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1506101999.539891.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1506102006.739339.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1506102014.672525.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1506102023.226946.jpg
 

Tidgy's Dad

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Very interesting.
But just one is not a basis for scientific discussion.
Try it again.
We need one that wasn't turned.
 

G-stars

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Well since it was turned upside down. First thing I would do is look into that and see how that can be resolved. Perhaps try another carrier? With a mock package first? Meaning no egg inside.

If that can get ruled out and it still happens than perhaps one of the other theories may be true.
 
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Here's some pictures I just took of my hatchling I hatched from tortstork I thought I'd Lighten up the mood a little bit I think @shellfreak would enjoy seeing this you can see the new shell growth The little white lines around the scutes are the new growth this is the sibling of the little guy who didn't make it ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1506113487.680891.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1506113500.237853.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1506113510.901490.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1506113519.795399.jpg
 
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shellfreak

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Well since it was turned upside down. First thing I would do is look into that and see how that can be resolved. Perhaps try another carrier? With a mock package first? Meaning no egg inside.

If that can get ruled out and it still happens than perhaps one of the other theories may be true.

Good idea. I just might try that, but with a different type of box that almost forces the carrier to place right side up.
 

wellington

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So sad, was really hoping all would be good. Maybe ship a regular chicken egg from your frig or if you know someone that has laying hens and see if it gets cracked/pipped during shipping. If not, thrn likely the little guy pipped himself. That would answer the question of l the pipping and that it wasn't too soon, possibly.
Seeing most package handlers are idiots that don't care about the packages they handle, I think you need to come up with something that ensures the egg stay upright. If the tort did pip on its own, then most likely just wasn't going to make it, unless the plane pressure killed it after it piped?
What if it was floated in water with hand warmers around it?
 

G-stars

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What about the hold at facility for pickup option? Might decrease the chances of the package being placed upside down just slightly.
 

leigti

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I'm not sure what I think of this whole idea. Yes, watching a tortoise hatch would be great, but watching one die truly sucks. It seems like there are just so many risks that aren't worth it. So many things out of the control of either party the shipper and the receiver. I don't breed tortoises so I guess my opinion doesn't really matter that much, but if I did breed them I would not ship eggs. I would ship hatchlings but not eggs. Just my opinion.
 

shellfreak

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So sad, was really hoping all would be good. Maybe ship a regular chicken egg from your frig or if you know someone that has laying hens and see if it gets cracked/pipped during shipping. If not, thrn likely the little guy pipped himself. That would answer the question of l the pipping and that it wasn't too soon, possibly.
Seeing most package handlers are idiots that don't care about the packages they handle, I think you need to come up with something that ensures the egg stay upright. If the tort did pip on its own, then most likely just wasn't going to make it, unless the plane pressure killed it after it piped?
What if it was floated in water with hand warmers around it?

I have shipping eggs down. I ship eggs within 48 hours of being laid. They are do fine. Im pretty confident that the egg isn't going to break, especially the way I pack it.

This was a fertile egg. I'm assuming it was due to the egg being upside down. I need to figure how to prevent the box from turning upside down.
 

shellfreak

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I'm not sure what I think of this whole idea. Yes, watching a tortoise hatch would be great, but watching one die truly sucks. It seems like there are just so many risks that aren't worth it. So many things out of the control of either party the shipper and the receiver. I don't breed tortoises so I guess my opinion doesn't really matter that much, but if I did breed them I would not ship eggs. I would ship hatchlings but not eggs. Just my opinion.

I agree, it sucks that it died. I feel pretty horrible. I do ship hatchlings, pretty often. I'm confident the shipping of fertile eggs can be done. I appreciate your opinion and encouragement though.
I have no problems/issues shipping eggs that were laid within 48 hours. Have no problems/issues shipping hatchlings. This is the first time I've tried to ship a fertile egg that was 75 days into incubation.
 

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