Nightime Nesting

[Neal]

This is likely the last leopard nest I will get this season. It's been a great year! I left most of the clutches in the ground, I would estimate there is over 100 eggs between two females.

I like when the nesting process continues after dark, it's a lot easier to sneak up behind the tortoise and get some up close shots without disturbing the female too much.

This female has always taken a long time with her nests. She takes a lot of pride in making sure that it's perfect before she drops her eggs.

Filling it back in.

Nice job!

I had to put the kids down after the sixth egg was dropped, so I might have missed a couple, but she usually averages about 8. Pretty good for a small female.

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

Neat!

 

[Eweezyfosheezy]

Congrats! How long are you leaving them in the ground? Some of my clutches have been in the ground for a few months now and I'm thinking about leaving some in and digging some out.

 

[Neal]

This past year I left them in the ground until spring, dug them up and finished the incubation indoors. With these, I intend to leave in the ground until they hatch, which I am predicting will be about a year.

 

[DesertGrandma]

Very cool

 

[Eweezyfosheezy]

Were your hatch rates any better when you dug them up during Spring?

 

[Neal]

Closer to 100% vs. less than 20% artificially.

 

[tortadise]

Awesome. I decided to leave a clutch in the ground this year as well. Ive never done it before with leos. But we will see what happens.