This year's Russian tortoise babies have started to hatch! So far, one completely blond little one (the color of mustard, no black markings!) and one medium dark one have hatched. Same parents (Timmy girl + Roz), and both 16g.
The blond one surprised me - I wasn't expecting any hatches for another week. When I looked in the incubator in the morning a few days ago, I saw an empty egg, and no hatchling anywhere. Small moment of panic... then I found her dug in under the substrate under her egg. The darker one hatched right on time for World Turtle Day!
Here are some quick cell phone pics. I'll take some better quality ones to add later!
I can't wait to meet the other little ones that are due to hatch in the next 3 weeks... All 6 fertile eggs are from my favorite female, Timmy girl. The other females likely won't lay until later this Summer or Fall.
The blond one surprised me - I wasn't expecting any hatches for another week. When I looked in the incubator in the morning a few days ago, I saw an empty egg, and no hatchling anywhere. Small moment of panic... then I found her dug in under the substrate under her egg. The darker one hatched right on time for World Turtle Day!
Here are some quick cell phone pics. I'll take some better quality ones to add later!
I can't wait to meet the other little ones that are due to hatch in the next 3 weeks... All 6 fertile eggs are from my favorite female, Timmy girl. The other females likely won't lay until later this Summer or Fall.