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- Sep 7, 2007
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So, anyone who breeds tortoises full time probably has those few animals that never seize to amaze with their reliability as frequent, fertile egg layers, no matter the situation...usually.
Here on the farm, we certainly have animals like that in almost every group, but then there's the "Egg Machine". The Egg Machine is something quite special. A beautiful, captive bred and raised Testudo marginata who now resides here and is a permanent member of our busy breeding group. I obtained her from a good friend who you most likely all know (Gary-GBTortoises), and when Gary sent her my way he explained that she is one heck of a breeder. Gary knows his stuff and I never once doubted him but never in my dreams did I expect her to be a reproductive
explosion...for lack of a better term.
Since October, this large female has literally laid THIRTEEN CLUTCHES of eggs here. Yes, you read that right, that's -13- clutches. The thirteenth one was just laid yesterday so I figured, ok it's time for a post about this creature. She was not hibernated because she did not do so with Gary all these years. So, I kept her awake with some others and it has just been insane. Her clutches never drop lower than 6 eggs each and never seem to go higher than 9. 8 is the norm for her. And here's the kicker...ALL the eggs have been good, except 2. We've hatched a world of beautiful little babies from her almost nonstop and it has really been interesting to see the life of a Marginated go "full circle". She lays the eggs, I dig them up and as I place them in the incubator, I pull out the ones hatching right then and there all in a day's work. One entire incubator is dedicated JUST for her eggs. All the other females' clutches are in another unit because they are more like double or triple clutchers. Not 13!
Her calcium remains stable as does her incredible health and she does not miss a beat. She has constant access to cuttle-bone like all the tortoises on the farm and she uses it when she feels the need. We watch her closely just to be sure she is ok and she is just an amazing little (or not so little) powerhouse.
Just thought it would be interesting to share with all of you and would be great to hear of other tortoises out there like this.
Here are some photos and collages of some of her nests over the last few months including her babies hatching. Not very good shots but you get the idea.
You can see these shots and tons and tons more of all the species bred here on my Instagram account, so please follow me. I post photos ever single day and I always tag tortoiseforum. My IG is chris_leone
Here on the farm, we certainly have animals like that in almost every group, but then there's the "Egg Machine". The Egg Machine is something quite special. A beautiful, captive bred and raised Testudo marginata who now resides here and is a permanent member of our busy breeding group. I obtained her from a good friend who you most likely all know (Gary-GBTortoises), and when Gary sent her my way he explained that she is one heck of a breeder. Gary knows his stuff and I never once doubted him but never in my dreams did I expect her to be a reproductive
explosion...for lack of a better term.
Since October, this large female has literally laid THIRTEEN CLUTCHES of eggs here. Yes, you read that right, that's -13- clutches. The thirteenth one was just laid yesterday so I figured, ok it's time for a post about this creature. She was not hibernated because she did not do so with Gary all these years. So, I kept her awake with some others and it has just been insane. Her clutches never drop lower than 6 eggs each and never seem to go higher than 9. 8 is the norm for her. And here's the kicker...ALL the eggs have been good, except 2. We've hatched a world of beautiful little babies from her almost nonstop and it has really been interesting to see the life of a Marginated go "full circle". She lays the eggs, I dig them up and as I place them in the incubator, I pull out the ones hatching right then and there all in a day's work. One entire incubator is dedicated JUST for her eggs. All the other females' clutches are in another unit because they are more like double or triple clutchers. Not 13!
Her calcium remains stable as does her incredible health and she does not miss a beat. She has constant access to cuttle-bone like all the tortoises on the farm and she uses it when she feels the need. We watch her closely just to be sure she is ok and she is just an amazing little (or not so little) powerhouse.
Just thought it would be interesting to share with all of you and would be great to hear of other tortoises out there like this.
Here are some photos and collages of some of her nests over the last few months including her babies hatching. Not very good shots but you get the idea.
You can see these shots and tons and tons more of all the species bred here on my Instagram account, so please follow me. I post photos ever single day and I always tag tortoiseforum. My IG is chris_leone
