07/02/2022
A quick little “How To:” video on how to set up a brooder box for a freshly pipped hatchling.
Additional information:
Hatchlings should be removed from the incubator as soon as you notice them pip. If their eggs are in a medium such as vermiculite, perlite, soil, coco coir, they can not only get it all in their eyes and block their nares, but they can either inadvertently or even intentionally ingest the medium and can cause big problems from rough starts, dehydration, or blockages and any of these can lead to poor health, organ damage or even death.
Place pipped and hatching babies on little damp papertowel donuts, in a bin with damp paper towels to stabilize the egg while they hatch.
Check on babies regularly to see how they are progressing. When they are close to being fully emerged from their egg, place a small amount of greens in their bin for them to sample.
Once they have fully emerged from their egg, remove the old papertowel lining and replace with fresh damp papertowels.
**OPTIONAL** You can wash a piece of their egg under running water and place it back in the bin with the baby. Sometimes they will continue to nibble on the egg shell as they explore and sample their surroundings.
**side note** If you watch them, you will notice they will taste test everything in their environment to figure out what is edible and what isn’t. **
If their yolk sac is still too large for them to walk normally, make a new papertowel donut for them to sit in. That will take some pressure off the sac. If you cover them with a damp papertowel, they are likely to be less stimulated and will sit in the donut and rest or sleep while their yolk is absorbed. Sometimes they aren’t very cooperative and won’t stay in their little donut nest, and instead, are all over the bin regardless of how awkward it is for them. Offer more greens and place the loosely lidded bin back in the enclosure. The ideal temperature for this early stage is 83-86°f (28-30°c). At this stage it is best to keep lighting to a minimum, as they rest and finish absorbing their yolk. Ambient light is fine. Just avoid harsh or bright light right away.
Continue checking on the hatchling(s). Once their yolk sac is mostly flat, it is safe to soak them in shallow warm water.
Continue soaking them daily, giving fresh food, and bedding changes. Once the yolk is fully absorbed and their plastron is sealing up, they can be moved to a bigger bin with a hide, brighter lighting, etc.
