06/11/2025
TURTLEy awesome eggs
Chelodina colliei – Day 17 Developmental Progress
Incubation temperature remains stable at 29.4 °C ± 0.2 °C with 95–96 % RH under the over-water humidified system.
All eggs exhibit complete shell opacification except for a basal translucence band (~10–15 % of surface), consistent with full expansion of the chorio-allantoic membrane and advanced vascularisation beneath.
The embryos are now in the transition between organogenesis and growth differentiation, characterised by:
Functional cardiovascular circulation (continuous blood flow in candled embryos).
Early ossification and pigmentation onset within the cranial and carapacial regions.
Increasing oxygen demand, reflected by a slight rise in internal egg temperature relative to ambient air (≈ +0.1–0.2 °C when measured via IR thermometry).
No asymmetrical whitening, shell collapse, or fungal halos were observed, confirming uniform hydration and gas exchange. At these parameters, continued incubation should maintain optimal embryonic metabolism through the next 10–15 days, when the yolk sac begins to contract and denting becomes apparent.
