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RAUK - Archived Forum - Posts by woodlyme:

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Posts by woodlyme:

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woodlyme Member Joined: 30 Jul 2010 No. of posts: 11 View other posts in this topic	Posted: 13 Aug 2010 Topic: Egg protection advice I recently uncovered a very large clutch of eggs in a compost heap. It was too late to preserve the original location, so I reburied them further back, hopefully at about the same depth. How critical is the eggs' environment? Are these likely to be OK? Having read that 40 eggs would be a large clutch, I am now a little tempted to try to count them more accurately, since my rough estimate was 50+ at the time, but I don't want to risk their viability. I would also really like to keep an eye on their progress. Any advice please?

woodlyme Member Joined: 30 Jul 2010 No. of posts: 11 View other posts in this topic	Posted: 06 Sep 2010 Topic: Egg protection advice Thanks for the good advice. I think it was two clutches then, which makes me even more concerned about them hatching! I am now very worried about the heat issue, since I suspect the mother had chosen a spot (no longer accessible) in maximum sunlight, and the weather since I disturbed them has been cooler. It would seem prudent to consider hatching some of them artificially. I am in Surrey, so I'll try to contact the local ARG.woodlyme40427.4961921296

woodlyme Member Joined: 30 Jul 2010 No. of posts: 11 View other posts in this topic	Posted: 07 Sep 2010 Topic: Egg protection advice Good point; I should have said that they are in an old heap. As far as I can tell it is not generating heat. I should try to get hold of a suitable thermometer to check; any suggestions, and what temperature should they be at?

woodlyme Member Joined: 30 Jul 2010 No. of posts: 11 View other posts in this topic	Posted: 15 Sep 2010 Topic: Egg protection advice I checked the temperature of the old compost heap in the region of the re-buried eggs and it was only 15C, with little prospect of it warming now. So I have relocated most of the eggs to a tea chest filled with the compost and a 100W heater in the base, in the car-port, with more compost piled up beside to provide an escape route. Unfortunately I do not have a suitable thermostat (suggestions?) so I am frequently checking the temperature and switching heater as required; but it is not proving easy to keep them in the recommended range of 21 to 28C! I had no reply from the Surrey ARG, and could not find that BHS bulletin online. More detailed hard info would be most appreciated. Many thanks for all the advice so far. I guess time is running out? If they do not hatch by mid October is it all over?

woodlyme Member Joined: 30 Jul 2010 No. of posts: 11 View other posts in this topic	Posted: 16 Sep 2010 Topic: Egg protection advice Thank you all, that is mostly very reassuring. (Except for the "do not turn" bit, because obviously I had no idea about that when I found them, but have been very careful since.) The aquarium method is brilliant! We keep tropical fish, so I should have thought of it myself. However, now that the chest full of compost has warmed through, the temperature has stabilised well, so having constructed this incubator I am happy to wait and see how it goes. I am greatly reassured by all the supportive comments, thanks again. The carport location, luckily, is ideal. The compost heap is right behind it (and I'll preserve that now), with low ground cover alongside. We sometimes see adult grassies sheltering in the car port, so know they like it. We have also seen many youngsters all around this area of the garden, so there must be plenty of food around. I think the hatchlings will be able to make their own way out, but I'll be delighted if I get the chance to help one or two. This summer we had a large adult residing in a hole under a dead tree, often seen basking part in, part out, then retreating in when disturbed. They are also fond of our pond full of newts, although we are not quite so keen on this since we discovered a couple of Great Cresteds in there. Here is my favourite photo of grassie and toad in our garden (the rather over optimistic meal was abandoned apparently unharmed!) and here is an adult on the compost heap concerned P.S. This forum editor seems to be seriously broken using Chrome browser, so I was unable to embed the photos or even hyperlinks. What browser can be used to do this? P.P.S. Photos added later using Internet Explorer 8. woodlyme40456.7543865741

woodlyme Member Joined: 30 Jul 2010 No. of posts: 11 View other posts in this topic	Posted: 05 Oct 2010 Topic: Egg protection advice I'm so excited! I found this little chap today in my incubator! woodlyme40456.7490972222

woodlyme Member Joined: 30 Jul 2010 No. of posts: 11 View other posts in this topic	Posted: 05 Oct 2010 Topic: Egg protection advice To answer my own question: "This forum editor seems to be seriously broken using Chrome browser, so I was unable to embed the photos or even hyperlinks. What browser can be used to do this?" I see that IE8 worked just fine for embedding a photo. So I have now added the photos to my earlier post. woodlyme40456.7553819444

woodlyme Member Joined: 30 Jul 2010 No. of posts: 11 View other posts in this topic	Posted: 12 Oct 2010 Topic: 3 hatched; what now? 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.

woodlyme Member Joined: 30 Jul 2010 No. of posts: 11 View other posts in this topic	Posted: 12 Oct 2010 Topic: Egg protection advice For those watching this thread, please note that I have started a new thread regarding what to do next. Please continue to help me there! Many thanks to all who replied on this topic.

woodlyme Member Joined: 30 Jul 2010 No. of posts: 11 View other posts in this topic	Posted: 13 Oct 2010 Topic: 3 hatched; what now? 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!

woodlyme Member Joined: 30 Jul 2010 No. of posts: 11 View other posts in this topic	Posted: 18 Oct 2010 Topic: 3 hatched; what now? 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.

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