Contest egg participants
Hi, well I checked the eggs all day long today and I really believe the more I look at them the longer it is going to take them to hatch. :) I will keep checking them because I am as excited as you are to see which egg cracks first! As of 10:00 p.m. tonight (Friday) no hatching going on! Talk to you tomorrow:)
Egg report
Checked the eggs all morning and again this afternoon and no hatches today as of yet. I can really see the changes in the eggs today. It's not gonna be long
Close up pictures of the contest eggs
All the eggs have really increased in size in the last couple of days. These pictures were taken at 5:30 p.m. tonight. Its a good thing that we cannot induce the hatching process or my son may have already done it for us.
Starting to feel the pressure....
I have checked the eggs multiple times today. Thank goodness for the window on the incubator, so I am not bothering the temperature. I feel a little pitter patter of my heart everytime I check... I can't wait to see who "cracks" first. I will check again later tonight and let you know in the morning whats new.
What goes into adding products to our store....
When Wally picks a product to add to his store or to sell at the Lizard shows he is passionate about it or he won't sell it. He uses the product and tests it before he considers selling it to others. He did this with the SHM (Supreme Hatching Material) and it has proven to be very successful for us. He used the SHM for a season of eggs hatches and saw that the material held just enough water to keep the eggs moist but not too much to water log them. I used it in all the containers for the contest eggs and the material has proven itself by keeping all the eggs stable and healthy.
Monday July 27th PM check....
PM check - no hatches tonight - even though my son keeps trying to convince me that one has hatched.
Egg check for 7/27 a.m. ---
I checked the eggs this am at 6:30 and no hatches yet. I am checking frequently throughout the day now since I expect a hatch at anytime. This is getting more and more exciting. Our son, Tim, keeps coming in and telling me that they hatched and laughs as I run to check on them.
Update later today.
Update later today.
Why do you need an air gun?
Yesterday, while working on supplies for the next show I heard the sound of the air compressor kick in. What on earth is Wally up too now? Well, here I find him and our 3 sons with an air gun in hand ready to put together yet another rack for the facility. It will 27 containers for geckos I was informed with great enthusiasm. I will admit I wasn't sure this was going to work out and actually fit when it was completed. And another question in my mind was " how on earth were they going to get it into the room when it was done?" They slowly and I mean "slowly" because of the over head vents and the fact that it could not be turned in any way due to NO space slid the new rack into its space.
I still am in awe at how Wally can find the space in the facility to add more racks. He does not waste any space at all. He says he can still fit one more rack in the room ~
I still am in awe at how Wally can find the space in the facility to add more racks. He does not waste any space at all. He says he can still fit one more rack in the room ~
Daily Check Report
Today we have checked out the eggs on consistent basis and nothing different to report. They are all still looking very good and it could be just any day!
Kicking off the summer!
Summer has started! This past quarter, saw the release of our revamped journal. Under its new title "Reptiles and Amphibian, Conservation and Ecology", the journal debuted in full-color, and feedback to date has been well received. Thank you to all our members; it is your membership that helps the journal thrive.
IRCF was at May's Herp World Expo in San Francisco - John and Sandy Binns, Joel Friesch, Mike Kern, and a handful of additional helpers; of course Izzy, our Cuban rock iguana! We headed into summer with attending the June Reptile Supershow (San Diego, CA) with Desiree Wong and Limey! They are grooming up a new show animal, Xan, a rhinocerous iguana, who made his first appearance in January!
We thank Bob, Brian, Jeff, Ramy, Jim and Mary for their continued support of IRCF! (www.narbc.com, www.kingsnake.com, www.reptilesupershow.com, www.herpworldexpo.com)
Our website has gone through a major redesign. We hope you enjoy its new format.
We also created a new IRCF Facebook Fan Page. We felt this would help keep folks posted a bit better than the groups format. Please consider becoming a fan!
http://www.facebook.com/IRCF.org
For all complete/additional news and details, visit http://www.ircf.org/.
IRCF was at May's Herp World Expo in San Francisco - John and Sandy Binns, Joel Friesch, Mike Kern, and a handful of additional helpers; of course Izzy, our Cuban rock iguana! We headed into summer with attending the June Reptile Supershow (San Diego, CA) with Desiree Wong and Limey! They are grooming up a new show animal, Xan, a rhinocerous iguana, who made his first appearance in January!
We thank Bob, Brian, Jeff, Ramy, Jim and Mary for their continued support of IRCF! (www.narbc.com, www.kingsnake.com, www.reptilesupershow.com, www.herpworldexpo.com)
Our website has gone through a major redesign. We hope you enjoy its new format.
We also created a new IRCF Facebook Fan Page. We felt this would help keep folks posted a bit better than the groups format. Please consider becoming a fan!
http://www.facebook.com/IRCF.org
For all complete/additional news and details, visit http://www.ircf.org/.
For the actual contest....
We are doing frequent checks on the contest eggs. Here is today's afternoon picture.
Exciting news.....
For Tim, our son, who discovered Hedgehog babies with one of his female hedgehogs! They look like little pincushions and they are nursing now.
Turtle Poachers Arrested... but bailed.....
From newspaper article in Seychelles Nation (22/07/09)
Two men have been arrested but released on bail after they were caught red-handed at Bel Ombre with turtle meat, spear guns and illegally-killed fish.
Both men are from Green Estate, Anse Aux Pins, and are aged 30 and 42. Department of Environment officers said yesterday they have been trying for more than 10 years to prosecute one of the men for poaching turtle meat.
Officials examine the confiscated speargun, equipment and catch at Police HQ, photo courtesy Nation
The officials confirmed they received a tip-off on the department’s GreenLine at around 5.45pm last Friday and responded with the help of Beau Vallon police.
During the arrests the police seized 7.95 kilos of turtle meat, 12.85 kilos of fish that had been illegally killed by spear guns, and equipment consisting of spear-gun, mask, snorkels, fins, rope and knives. Under Seychelles law it is illegal to kill a turtle, or to possess, sell, buy or eat its meat.
Freelance conservation consultant Dr Jeanne Mortimer told the newspaper that there is a popular misconception that it is legal to eat turtle meat.
“It is illegal to possess turtle meat in any form,” she said. “If someone is eating it, then that person is also guilty of possession, so he or she can definitely be arrested and charged”. So for people who think it is OK as long as they are only eating turtle meat, they are informed that this is not the case and they will be committing a crime punishable by law.
“Offences involving sea turtles can carry a fine of R500,000 or two years’ imprisonment.” The public are reminded that it is also illegal to kill fish and other marine life using spear guns.
Meanwhile, the police investigation into the case continues.
NOTE – Based on MCSS observations, one of the suspects has been operating in the South of Mahe since 2004. Indeed the same individual was responsible for killing Carol’s “satellite tag-twin”, the second turtle tagged with a satellite tag by MCSS in December 2007.
Both men are from Green Estate, Anse Aux Pins, and are aged 30 and 42. Department of Environment officers said yesterday they have been trying for more than 10 years to prosecute one of the men for poaching turtle meat.
Officials examine the confiscated speargun, equipment and catch at Police HQ, photo courtesy NationThe officials confirmed they received a tip-off on the department’s GreenLine at around 5.45pm last Friday and responded with the help of Beau Vallon police.
During the arrests the police seized 7.95 kilos of turtle meat, 12.85 kilos of fish that had been illegally killed by spear guns, and equipment consisting of spear-gun, mask, snorkels, fins, rope and knives. Under Seychelles law it is illegal to kill a turtle, or to possess, sell, buy or eat its meat.
Freelance conservation consultant Dr Jeanne Mortimer told the newspaper that there is a popular misconception that it is legal to eat turtle meat.
“It is illegal to possess turtle meat in any form,” she said. “If someone is eating it, then that person is also guilty of possession, so he or she can definitely be arrested and charged”. So for people who think it is OK as long as they are only eating turtle meat, they are informed that this is not the case and they will be committing a crime punishable by law.
“Offences involving sea turtles can carry a fine of R500,000 or two years’ imprisonment.” The public are reminded that it is also illegal to kill fish and other marine life using spear guns.
Meanwhile, the police investigation into the case continues.
NOTE – Based on MCSS observations, one of the suspects has been operating in the South of Mahe since 2004. Indeed the same individual was responsible for killing Carol’s “satellite tag-twin”, the second turtle tagged with a satellite tag by MCSS in December 2007.
AM check of eggs on 7/24 ... What do I see?
Here is the 6:30 a.m. check of the eggs for today. I see that #12's shell is really thinning out - several others have as well.. you never know.
It's not gonna be long before......
Well, we are about 7 1/2 weeks into the contest and no one has hatched yet. They all look good and it's getting interesting to see the changes in the eggs. I have been checking them early morning, noon, and later evening daily now. Here is the picture from about 10 minutes ago. Good Luck!! It's not gonna be long now!
Welcome back Anders!
Anders Dimblad, the new Hotel Manager at Banyan Tree Resort Seychelles, photo Banyan Tree ResortBanyan Tree Resort Seychelles has a new Hotel Manager and he happens to be an ex-member of the MCSS Turtle Monitoring Team at the Resort!
Anders Dimblad was working as Rooms Division Manager at Banyan Tree Seychelles in 2004 when he and a number of other resort staff underwent training in turtle monitoring techniques used in Seychelles under the MCSS/BHC project. He went on to tag 7 nesting Hawksbill turtles during the 2004-05 Hawksbill Nesting Season, but unfortunately left the programme in June 2005 when he was relocated to Angsana Ihuru in the Maldives as Executive Assistant Manager.
Anders (far left) tagging his first turtle, photo Elke Talma.In the past 4 years, Anders has travelled the world, Banyan Tree style, and is now back in Seychelles as the Hotel Manager.
If Elke has her way, he will also be back on the beach tagging turtles, making him the only Hotel Manager in the world of a Five Star Resort trained to tag turtles.
COMMENT / FOLLOW
If you enjoy our blog. Please leave a comment or Follow up (to the left). Thank you, Wally
Contest Update - Wed 7/22 AM
I know Nanette has a couple of other responsibilities today so I wanted to get this out there-
No hatches yet for this morning.
Also- I believe an ealier post mentioned that there were some guesses that passed the date and therefore could not win the contest. HOWEVER- everyone is still in the contest!!! This was just a misunderstanding of the rules.
Keep those fingers crossed- it will be any day now I am sure.
Wally
No hatches yet for this morning.
Also- I believe an ealier post mentioned that there were some guesses that passed the date and therefore could not win the contest. HOWEVER- everyone is still in the contest!!! This was just a misunderstanding of the rules.
Keep those fingers crossed- it will be any day now I am sure.
Wally
9 people picked today!
This is the most popular day that was picked... Here is a picture from my morning check of the eggs today. They look about the same as they did in the video. I will check throughout the day.
Which egg will crack first???
Well, tonight I checked the eggs and they all look about the same. We are coming up to the most popular date that was picked this week. Watch for a video in the next couple days again.
Q&A- Silkworms
This is from Meg Gavinski-
Q: Are silk worms worth buying to help picky crested eaters? Or would it be a waste of time? Will they stay in a glass dish like a roach will, or will they crawl out? How many should be fed at a time/how often?
I really want to help put some weight on one of my geckos, but he refuses crickets, and roaches super creep me out.
I found a place to get silks for a decent price...I just don't know if its worth it! help!
A: This is a great question. I've worked with silkworms a couple of times (both times purchasing about 5000-10,000)!
Some animals really tore into them, most ate the worms but didn't seem to prefer them over other foods, some animals actually ignored the silkworms.
They are very inexpensive if you order them as eggs, along with the mulberry food to prepare, and have some time to manage.
My feeling with silkworms is that they are a great project to play with once or twice but there are other foods you can feed your animals to get a little weight on them. I like to use waxworms a couple times prior to breeding my females- only offering a about 4-6 a feeding. ALL animals seem to love waxworms. Note that they are a bit fatty and the animals, if fed a constant diet of them will become addicted to waxworms : Hope this helps. Wally
Q: Are silk worms worth buying to help picky crested eaters? Or would it be a waste of time? Will they stay in a glass dish like a roach will, or will they crawl out? How many should be fed at a time/how often?
I really want to help put some weight on one of my geckos, but he refuses crickets, and roaches super creep me out.
I found a place to get silks for a decent price...I just don't know if its worth it! help!
A: This is a great question. I've worked with silkworms a couple of times (both times purchasing about 5000-10,000)!
Some animals really tore into them, most ate the worms but didn't seem to prefer them over other foods, some animals actually ignored the silkworms.
They are very inexpensive if you order them as eggs, along with the mulberry food to prepare, and have some time to manage.
My feeling with silkworms is that they are a great project to play with once or twice but there are other foods you can feed your animals to get a little weight on them. I like to use waxworms a couple times prior to breeding my females- only offering a about 4-6 a feeding. ALL animals seem to love waxworms. Note that they are a bit fatty and the animals, if fed a constant diet of them will become addicted to waxworms : Hope this helps. Wally
Cleaning day for baby leopards
Just cleaned, watered, and fed the leopard baby wall in our facility. I like to do this job because I get to see how they are growing. It amazes me how fast they grow. Also, can be pretty funny to see them eat and try to attack a mealworm .... miss.... try again.... miss... got it! You know those worms are pretty fast moving sometimes :)
Friday night update...
Hi to all - Eggs look like about the same tonight. Hope you enjoyed the video of them. We did however, have 4 other leopards hatch tonight (not contest eggs). One of them was a blizzard and it has a neat pattern on it.
I Have A Big BUT!
I have a big BUT. I know this because it shows up everywhere and constantly gets in the way. It gets bigger and bigger as I sit around and watch the game on TV or play the latest on-line game on the computer. I would have more time with the family or get more done in the lizard room, however this big BUT stops me. It’s embarrassing because I know how to get rid of it… Just Get Up and Do Something. Sometimes though, as I sit there taking the “What 1960’s muscle car am I most like” quiz, it gets too easy to just keep sitting there… and my BUT grows and grows.
I know it’s all about setting priorities and focusing on the things that are most important. I know if I get busy and start chiseling away at these tasks, that big BUT will just disappear. It’s an EXERSISE and once started, will quickly become a habit. I know my big BUT will not go away tomorrow but I can certainly start working on this TODAY!
I think I will write an article on this “How to stop Procrastinating, Today!”.
I think I will start that article first thing tomorrow morning.
Wally
Special report tomorrow...
Running a little late tonight. Checked eggs and they all look good. No big changes tonight. Tomorrow watch for a special report.
So whats new with the eggs today....
"A watched pot never boils" was the thought that crossed my mind while checking the eggs tonight. The eggs are swelling more and more each day. Stay tuned for tomorrows picture and update!
Ka-BOOOM - Watch your step!
For 2 years now, MCSS has been monitoring for nesting turtles at Anse Grand Police and to Elke's shock and horror it was recently revealed that the site was a mine field of unexploded ammunition!
For over 30 years, Police Bay was closed off to visitors as it hosted the Grand Police High Security Prison (closed in September 2006) and a shooting range (closed in early 2009) for the Seychelles People’s Defence Force (SPDF).
As a known nesting site with an estimated population of 11 to 20 female Hawksbill turtles (Mortimer, 1984), numerous attempts were made by staff from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR) and MCSS to gain access to the beach. Finally, in September 2007, MCSS was allowed right of entry and thus added Anse Grand Police to its’ South Mahé Turtle Monitoring Programme. Elke was really pleased and declared herself “Turtle Queen” of South Mahe!
For over 30 years, Police Bay was closed off to visitors as it hosted the Grand Police High Security Prison (closed in September 2006) and a shooting range (closed in early 2009) for the Seychelles People’s Defence Force (SPDF).
As a known nesting site with an estimated population of 11 to 20 female Hawksbill turtles (Mortimer, 1984), numerous attempts were made by staff from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR) and MCSS to gain access to the beach. Finally, in September 2007, MCSS was allowed right of entry and thus added Anse Grand Police to its’ South Mahé Turtle Monitoring Programme. Elke was really pleased and declared herself “Turtle Queen” of South Mahe!
Anse Grand Police, with its SPDF Shooting Range located in the clearing behind the dune and the abandoned High Security Prison in the background, photo Guy Blain. During the 2007-08 Nesting Season, it became clear that Anse Grand Police hosted a significant number of nesting turtles compared to its neighbouring beaches. When plans to build a Five Star Resort at the site were proposed, Elke was not at all happy about the prospect of tourist lounging on her nesting beach and messing with her turtles. The prolific poaching during 2008-09 Nesting Season (see previous blogs), however, has caused her to have a change of heart as the Hotel will surely discourage poachers from killing turtles on the beach and in the waters just offshore.
Anyway, back to the story!
As part of the new development’s planning process, the Arab consortium who owns the property organised for a bomb disposal team from U.A.E. to go over the shooting range - just in case - to search for possible unexploded munitions. They found more than they bargained for!
Anyway, back to the story!
As part of the new development’s planning process, the Arab consortium who owns the property organised for a bomb disposal team from U.A.E. to go over the shooting range - just in case - to search for possible unexploded munitions. They found more than they bargained for!
Metal detectors used to find the unexploded munitions, photo Elke Talma. 
Quad bike, used on the nesting beach (much to Elke’s annoyance) to carry the heavy equipment and survey the dune areas at the South end of the beach, photo Elke Talma. Their search area extended well beyond the shooting range and onto the turtle nesting platform and after 2 weeks, the team from U.A.E in collaboration with the Seychelles Army have declared the site safe – except for a small part in the wetlands which they were not equipped to deal on this trip!
Elke is keeping well clear of the wetlands until they return with the frog-men and submersible metal detectors!
A small sample of the bounty, photo Elke Talma.
Changes in a couple of the eggs...
I checked the eggs this am, noon, and tonight. No one has hatched yet. However, if you look closely at egg #10 on the right side it seems to thinning out a little. #12 is doing the same thing. Does it mean anything - who knows - just noting the differences I see. All the eggs look great and I truly think any one of them could be the "lucky" egg!
Contest- Quick Update
Just a quick update on the contest-
Since Nanette got in pretty late last night and is off and running today, I wanted to step in and let everyone know that there were NO NEW DEVELOPMENTS in the egg hatching contest this morning when I checked. All the eggs look great (thank you SHM) and we expect 100% hatch rate from this group.
Since Nanette got in pretty late last night and is off and running today, I wanted to step in and let everyone know that there were NO NEW DEVELOPMENTS in the egg hatching contest this morning when I checked. All the eggs look great (thank you SHM) and we expect 100% hatch rate from this group.
Hatching Material- Which is best
As you've probably noticed in the photos from the How Will Crack First? Contest, we are using an interesting hatching material. It is called SHM (Supreme Hatch Material). We've used perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, sphagnum moss, and even HatchRite in the past. We've switched from one product to the next to give us the experience to discuss these materials at reptile shows and answer questions on-line.
Our feeling is that while vermiculite, perlite, peat moss and sphagnum moss (we had undesirable results from HatchRite) work well enough IF you have the experience to know how much water to include to maintain the correct humidity levels. However, this also means that you need to constantly check moisture levels in the material.
Supreme Hatch Material is a clay fired, pourous product. It soaks up water.... pour water into the mix and it sounds like Rice Krispies (you know- snap, crackle, pop!)
SHM is the easiest material to setup, usually does not need water added during the incubation period, and is least expensive as it is reusable!
In the past year, we have switched over to SHM for all of our hatching needs. From leopard geckos to crested geckos to day geckos to australian geckos. It works GREAT!
As we fully believe in this product, we sell it at reptile shows and online on the Supreme Gecko Store.
For a quick slide show on how SHM is prepared, check this out How to Prepare SHM
Wally
Waiting.... is so so hard!
Checked the eggs this am and again at noon. No change in them today. Isn't is hard to wait to see what happens? I feel like an expecting mom again waiting for the special day!
Contest eggs are all starting to swell a little....
Today's picture of contest eggs - taken at noon.
Not much difference in the eggs today. They all look really good and are starting to swell a little.
I think that #12 looks the biggest right now, but that could change by tomorrow.
What did I find when I opened the incubator?
This is what I found when I opened one of the incubators this morning.
4 hatches! I found 8 hatches in all this morning!
Contest inquiries???
Here is today's picture of the eggs for the contest.
I have had several people emailing who have forgotten their pick or that jokingly have asked to change their pick. I will email your picks if you request the info and sorry to those who want to change your pick - can't help you with that. You may be surprised in the end :)
20th issue of Torti d’Mer published today
The 20th issue of Torti d’Mer, the MCSS turtle newsletter, was published today. This quarterly newsletter was first produced in March 2004 under the MCSS Turtle Fund project. In June 2008, it was recognised on a national level when it was given an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN), listing Elke Talma (MCSS Research Officer and main author) and Dr. David Rowat (MCSS Chairman and part-time co-author) as the official editors/publishers of Torti d’Mer.
The newsletter is available to donors, forms part of the MCSS Turtle adoption kit and over the years has even become an educational resource for school kids through the National Library and Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles.
We hope that in the last 5 years, our newsletter, has fulfilled its role as an educative and public information document, as well as provided a forum for stakeholders to discuss issues of concern and provided commentary and opinions on developments related to turtle conservation in Seychelles.
Here’s to another 20 issues!
NOTE - If you would like to receive a copy of Torti d’Mer, please visit our web site and adopt a turtle!
The newsletter is available to donors, forms part of the MCSS Turtle adoption kit and over the years has even become an educational resource for school kids through the National Library and Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles.We hope that in the last 5 years, our newsletter, has fulfilled its role as an educative and public information document, as well as provided a forum for stakeholders to discuss issues of concern and provided commentary and opinions on developments related to turtle conservation in Seychelles.
Here’s to another 20 issues!
NOTE - If you would like to receive a copy of Torti d’Mer, please visit our web site and adopt a turtle!
Still think you picked the right egg?
Here are close up shots of each egg. Are you confident with your pick still?
Contest- When Will You Crack! More Frequent Updates!
I've suggested that updates of the eggs becomes more frequent starting today and Nanette agrees.I think we will probably get a photo out once a day this week and perhaps even more frequently than than (at least starting next week).
It's Go Time for the eggs!
1000 Viewers!!!
Supreme Gecko has a video that is reaching 1000 viewiers- How to Prepare MRP- Crested Gecko Diet
As I write this, there have been 981 viewers.
Thank you everyone that watched the video.
As I write this, there have been 981 viewers.
Thank you everyone that watched the video.
Popular egges are both changing!
The eggs are almost 4 weeks old and are starting to change and make this contest a little more interesting.. Popular Egg # 8 is starting to change and a little. #'s 9 & 10 have really changed a lot since the last picture. Look at #11 - #14 they are really getting longer! I wonder if #8 will catch up to #13?
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