How to Care for Turtle Eggs

It can be both a child's delight and a parent's horror: to start with two pets and later realize that a whole family of animals is on its way. In the realm of pets, turtle babies are relatively easy to take care of. When raising turtle babies, most of the hard work from a human perspective comes in the time between the laying and the hatching of the eggs.

Things You'll Need

  • Heat lamp
  • Styrofoam cooler
  • Vermiculite
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Instructions

    • 1

      Mix vermiculite with water at a ratio of 1:1. Vermiculite is a common medium used in planting, which can be purchased at any nursery.

    • 2

      Cover the bottom of the Styrofoam cooler with the mixture from Step 1.

    • 3

      Place the turtle eggs inside the cooler, on top of the vermiculite. Cover the eggs with an additional layer of vermiculite.

    • 4

      Cut a hole in the lid of the Styrofoam cooler and place it on top.

    • 5

      Adjust the heat lamp so it reaches through the hole in the top o the cooler, and the temperature is between 80 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 6

      Check back about every 48 hours to identify cracks or signs of hatching. Incubation periods vary depending on temperature and species.