Carrying eggs through hibernation

Steve Graffham · 11-11-2012, 10:18 AM

It's been a strange year for my hermanns. Because they were hiding away for a lot of the time in mid/late summer, I had their droppings screened for worms and the results showed that there was a high count of pin worm eggs. Later that week I found a dropping with pin worms in it. I carried out a worming course with panacur which has rectified the problem, the torts resumed normal activity and because of the earlier problem I decided i would defer their hibernation until the beginning of Dec as opposed to mid Nov to allow them to build themselves back up to normal weight and condition.
My largest female had not produced any eggs this year until 4 days ago when she laid 3 eggs, I was expecting them because she was acting gravid like other years. My only concern now is that the torts are now on week 2 of winding down for hibernation and I'm not sure if the largest female will start to make another clutch and that the younger female may be carrying eggs. Am i correct in assuming that any eggs of whatever stage of development inside the tortoises now will be fine and that they will be laid upon emergence of hibernation?

Gordon · 11-11-2012, 11:41 AM

Not sure about this one either the problem i have is mine were due to go down today and i have found an egg!! and i have no idea who laid it

Catwoman63 · 11-11-2012, 12:05 PM

Oh Gordon thats the last thing you needed before hibernation especially as you have alot of females x

Steve Graffham · 11-11-2012, 01:17 PM

Hi Gordon.

How long had your torts been wound down for? and at what daytime temperature had you got them down?

**egyptiandan64** · 11-11-2012, 01:52 PM

Steve, how big are your females and how much do they weight?

Danny

Steve Graffham · 11-11-2012, 04:54 PM

Hi Danny.

The oldest female is 11 yrs old, is 18.cms and weighs 1232gms after laying the 3 eggs, she has been laying fertile eggs for the past 3 years.

The younger one is 7 yrs old, is 16.5 cms and weighs 1027 gms and has not laid any eggs yet.

The male has been with the both the females for short spells throughout the year .

**egyptiandan64** · 11-11-2012, 07:02 PM

Their weights are excellent

I don't see any reason not to continue with winding down. If you want, after they are wound down, you can bring them to the vets to get an x-ray to see if anyone is carrying eggs.

Danny

Steve Graffham · 11-11-2012, 07:54 PM

Thanks for your advice Danny. If at the end of winding down it was discovered that eggs were being carried, do you feel it would ok to hibernate whoever is gravid and wait for the eggs to be laid in the spring?

**egyptiandan64** · 11-11-2012, 10:11 PM

I know people that have gotten eggs in the spring right out of hibernation(within a week). Not sure how these eggs fair, whether most are infertile from being in the female to long or just getting cold who knows. If it was me I'd keep her up to lay the eggs and if after she is still of a good bruminating (hibernating) weight, than I'd go ahead and bruminate her.

Danny

Steve Graffham · 12-11-2012, 06:15 AM

Thanks for your much appreciated advice Danny.

11-11-2012, 10:18 AM	#1
Steve Graffham Junior Member Egg Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Essex Posts: 33	Carrying eggs through hibernation It's been a strange year for my hermanns. Because they were hiding away for a lot of the time in mid/late summer, I had their droppings screened for worms and the results showed that there was a high count of pin worm eggs. Later that week I found a dropping with pin worms in it. I carried out a worming course with panacur which has rectified the problem, the torts resumed normal activity and because of the earlier problem I decided i would defer their hibernation until the beginning of Dec as opposed to mid Nov to allow them to build themselves back up to normal weight and condition. My largest female had not produced any eggs this year until 4 days ago when she laid 3 eggs, I was expecting them because she was acting gravid like other years. My only concern now is that the torts are now on week 2 of winding down for hibernation and I'm not sure if the largest female will start to make another clutch and that the younger female may be carrying eggs. Am i correct in assuming that any eggs of whatever stage of development inside the tortoises now will be fine and that they will be laid upon emergence of hibernation?

11-11-2012, 12:05 PM	#3
Catwoman63 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: South East England Posts: 6,739	Oh Gordon thats the last thing you needed before hibernation especially as you have alot of females x __________________ BEV XXX 0.3.0 - T Horsfieldii (Xena, Zelda & Lilly) 2.2.0 - TG Terrestris (Zeus, Astreus / Zagreus & Alexia) 1.2.0 - Zebra Finches (Gunner / Bonnie & May) 0.1.0 - SBT (Hazel) 1.0.0 - FBD (Ted)

11-11-2012, 01:17 PM	#4
Steve Graffham Junior Member Egg Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Essex Posts: 33	carrying eggs through hibernation Hi Gordon. How long had your torts been wound down for? and at what daytime temperature had you got them down?

11-11-2012, 01:52 PM	#5
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Steve, how big are your females and how much do they weight? Danny __________________

11-11-2012, 07:02 PM	#7
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Their weights are excellent I don't see any reason not to continue with winding down. If you want, after they are wound down, you can bring them to the vets to get an x-ray to see if anyone is carrying eggs. Danny __________________

11-11-2012, 11:41 AM	#2
Gordon Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 5,676	Not sure about this one either the problem i have is mine were due to go down today and i have found an egg!! and i have no idea who laid it

11-11-2012, 04:54 PM	#6
Steve Graffham Junior Member Egg Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Essex Posts: 33	Hi Danny. The oldest female is 11 yrs old, is 18.cms and weighs 1232gms after laying the 3 eggs, she has been laying fertile eggs for the past 3 years. The younger one is 7 yrs old, is 16.5 cms and weighs 1027 gms and has not laid any eggs yet. The male has been with the both the females for short spells throughout the year .

11-11-2012, 07:54 PM	#8
Steve Graffham Junior Member Egg Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Essex Posts: 33	Carrying eggs through hibernation Thanks for your advice Danny. If at the end of winding down it was discovered that eggs were being carried, do you feel it would ok to hibernate whoever is gravid and wait for the eggs to be laid in the spring?

11-11-2012, 10:11 PM	#9
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	I know people that have gotten eggs in the spring right out of hibernation(within a week). Not sure how these eggs fair, whether most are infertile from being in the female to long or just getting cold who knows. If it was me I'd keep her up to lay the eggs and if after she is still of a good bruminating (hibernating) weight, than I'd go ahead and bruminate her. Danny __________________

12-11-2012, 06:15 AM	#10
Steve Graffham Junior Member Egg Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Essex Posts: 33	Thanks for your much appreciated advice Danny.

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