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3 hatched: |
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woodlyme Member Joined: 30 Jul 2010 No. of posts: 11  View other posts by woodlyme |
Posted: 12 Oct 2010 Hi again, I have now found 3 beautiful babies in my tea chest warm compost incubator, but of course others may have made their own way out. I released the 3 into suitable locations (where eggs were found), and luckily the weather has been good for them. I also found a shed skin! Now, presumably this means that one of the babies had been hiding for a few days, and finding plenty of food in the compost? How long after hatching do they shed? So now I am wondering how many others might still be hiding in there, maybe down near the heater! Anyway, I am now wondering how long I should keep the heater going? There were about 40 eggs buried in there. I have not disturbed them again to investigate. I can leave the incubator in the carport over the winter if there's a chance more will hatch in the spring and/or hatchlings might hibernate in there. Suggestions please! Many Thanks. |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 13 Oct 2010 Hey well done! Chances are a lot of the hatchlings are going to be hugging that heater. They are still metabolising the egg yolk and don't usually feed. If it's a single clutch and it is likely that it is, I would expect them all to hatch within a day or two of each other. Shedding occurs very soon after hatching. I would make a careful investigation and aim at releasing them. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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woodlyme Member Joined: 30 Jul 2010 No. of posts: 11 View other posts by woodlyme |
Posted: 13 Oct 2010 Thanks Gemma. It has been over a week since I found the first, so it sounds like any from the same clutch that have not hatched now are duds? I'll investigate very carefully when the sun next comes out! |
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Robert V Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 717  View other posts by Robert V |
Posted: 14 Oct 2010 Hi all, hey, congrats that's great news. If you do find the other eggs can you have a quick count and see how many remained and roughly how many hatched. If it is say five out of forty, it is slightly less than I averaged but I imagine I was just fortunate. What it would show, is how small a percentage actually make it through to adult hood. Cheers Rob RobV |
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woodlyme Member Joined: 30 Jul 2010 No. of posts: 11 View other posts by woodlyme |
Posted: 18 Oct 2010 I emptied the box on Saturday, but found no further hatchlings. I counted 43 eggs. I had also reburied some in another part of the compost heap, so am not sure of the total. Anyway, it sounds like the aquarium incubator is a more reliable method. |
- 3 hatched |