How to Care for the Eggs of Russian Tortoises

A healthy female Russian tortoise will lay one to five eggs at a time twice a year. The first mating will occur about 6-8 weeks after the hibernation period. The female tortoise will become restless with a decreased appetite and the male will become more active and ready to mate. The eggs can be found buried about 1 to 2 inches below the ground in a nest or sandy area. If you're careful handling the eggs during the transfer, caring for them is simple.

Things You'll Need

  • Incubator
  • Vermiculite
  • Paper towels
  • Sphagnum moss
  • Small water dishes
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Set the incubator between 85 and 93 degrees before the eggs are laid. Russian tortoises posses male-female temperature-dependent sex determinations. Eggs in lower temperatures will be males and eggs in higher temperatures will be female. To increase your chances of a variety of genders keep at a median temperature around 89 degrees.

    • 2

      Fill the incubator half way up with moist vermiculite. To make the vermiculite moist add the same amount of water as the weight of the vermiculite. Allow it to sit in the incubator for at least 24 hours to adjust to the temperature.

    • 3

      Place the eggs within the incubator without turning them upside down or sideways. Bury the eggs an inch into the vermiculite. Wet a paper towel and cover the eggs with it. Cover the wet paper towel with damp sphagnum moss.

    • 4

      Fill two small dishes with water and place them into the incubator. This will help regulate the temperature and the humidity. After 8 weeks has gone by check the incubator daily for hatchlings. It may take up to 48 hours for a hatchling to fully get out of its egg.