I'm keeping it isolated in a separate container with lid on a kale leaf inside my closed chamber ( 2 plastic flat storage boxes) till the umbilicus is healed. It's 3 days old so still healing. Temps at 95F and 90% humidity. I've offered it water. It was incubated in a ExoTerra unit between 85 and 90* F. for 81 days. Will this correct itself?They sometimes hatch in shapes like this out of the egg. Its usually only a problem when they are started incorrectly and kept too dry.
Do you use a brooder box for 7-10 days? Are you soaking daily and keeping them in monsoon conditions?
It usually does if you keep them in the brooder box for 10 days.I'm keeping it isolated in a separate container with lid on a kale leaf inside my closed chamber ( 2 plastic flat storage boxes) till the umbilicus is healed. It's 3 days old so still healing. Temps at 95F and 90% humidity. I've offered it water. It was incubated in a ExoTerra unit between 85 and 90* F. for 81 days. Will this correct itself?
Thanks Tom for your response. The kale is only used for a natural bedding. Fortunately I have access to many natural weeds, opuntia, plantain, and grass. All my hatchlings and older torts are fed a more natural diet supplemented with store bought dandelion, radish tops, soaked Mazuari and occasional mixed salad greens.It usually does if you keep them in the brooder box for 10 days.
Kale isn't a great tortoise food. Its okay once in a while, but now is the time to introduce all sorts of good foods. HUGE variety.
Use this thread to make sure you aren't missing any steps:
How To Incubate Eggs And Start Hatchlings
I put my eggs in a plastic shoe box with a lid on it and put the shoe box in the incubator. You can drill a couple of very small holes around the top of the container, but not on the lid. I use vermiculite as an incubation media. I mix it in a 1 : 1 ratio with water by weight for Sulcatas and...tortoiseforum.org
This thread goes into more detail:
Sudan Sulcatas (This never gets old...)
My very first clutch of true 100% pure Sudan sulcatas is now hatching. I don't care how many times I see this, it just never gets old. I dig up the eggs carefully place them in my prepared shoe boxes, watch the temperature in the incubator and tend to them for months, and then... When that...tortoiseforum.org
I would back off on soaking, hatchlings have soft shells, I soak mine a few times a week seeing they get a certain amount of water through the fruits and vegetables, some calcium made from sea shells wouldn’t hurt and lighting for that vitamin D3 and their shells will repair, especially since they are hatchlings.I have had some hatchlings with slight to very pronounced dents in the shells. Is there any reason or something I can do to prevent this?
Is it better to soak then feed or feed then soak?
Very greatful for any response. This is such a good source if reliable information.
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This is bad info. Soaking daily does no harm. In fact it does the opposite. Babies soaked daily do far better than babies soaked less often.I would back off on soaking, hatchlings have soft shells, I soak mine a few times a week seeing they get a certain amount of water through the fruits and vegetables, some calcium made from sea shells wouldn’t hurt and lighting for that vitamin D3 and their shells will repair, especially since they are hatchlings.
Thanks for all the replies. The next 3 are perfect!Thanks Tom for your response. The kale is only used for a natural bedding. Fortunately I have access to many natural weeds, opuntia, plantain, and grass. All my hatchlings and older torts are fed a more natural diet supplemented with store bought dandelion, radish tops, soaked Mazuari and occasional mixed salad greens.
Not too many picky eaters here.
Thanks for the thread. Hopefully the next 3 that are hatching now will be fine.
Like you said....."It never gets old".