- This topic has 5 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 23 years, 10 months ago by
irnbru@erols.com.
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Terrapin Station at USNA/GP
My interest in terrapins is primarily conservation, however, I would be lost without the knowledge I have gained from the captive breeders, hi Chun. My first year I collected eggs from precarious nests and incubated at room temp. 97% hatch rate at ambient air temps. This past year we collected over 160 eggs from bad nest sites and had excellent rates in the incubator 100% but very poor rates in the ambient air technique. This summer was sub par in that it was very cool. The nest in ambient air which eventually hatched were late 100 days and the little nippers appeared smaller. I operate a program which allows private citizens and schools to raise the hatchlings over the nine month school year and then we release in the terrapin’s natal waters. The program is very popular and in fact is a very respectable conservation measure considering the failure rates at the egg stage. We have been criticized by the academic and research communities, but we have yet to have a mortality in the classroom, (kids or terrapins) and the stewardship we have is priceless. SO, despite our critics we are pressing on regardless. I wish you guys lived in Maryland so you could help us Head-Start. As you know these critters are endearing. Keep up the good work. Check out my web site (which is really outdated) but new stuff is underway. Also, check out the http://www.terrapininstitute.org. “he who knows best knows how little he knows.”
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I wish I was close enough to help with the Head-start program. I love raising babies. Vickie
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What foods are fed to the babies? How are they set up?
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MW, Why would anyone want to criticize what you do?! I simply don’t understand – what kind of arguments can they bring against such successful hatch rates? In addition, 9 month old dbts should also have high survival rates upon release. I definitely agree that stewardship of the general public will go a long way towards fostering a conservation mindset among private citizens and especially among children. Projects like that leave an indelible impression on their young minds. Keep up the excellent work. We’ll have to put Maryland on our places to visit too! – Chun — In diamondbackterrapins@egroups.com, “Terrapin Station at USNA/GP”
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MW Before you guys release these little jewels in the water, go find some naturally hatched babies and see where they live their first year. I think you may be suprised. I have not seen muched published on this, but DBT don’t go for the 100 hatchling mad dash for the open water as sea turtles. It is interesting and would make a landmark publication for the disertation bound graduate student. If I told you then everyone would know where to find them. I prefer to not have this on my conscience, but then again I seem to be the evil one. Some of you should check the Tulane studies in their methods of scientific sampling as well as another individual that did average cranial character comparisons to “find” a relationship between Malaclemys and Graptemys. The adult female skulls of macrospilota did not exactly come from road kills and natural deaths. This was important info for the herpetological community as well as a sizable control group to reinforce this information. I am all for science but there is much to learn from observation without disection of a sample group. Some of you may can see where I am coming from in hesitation to release info about populations and or habits. Just be careful about releasing hatchlings and watching the sea gulls and fish get their fill. Try yearlings (3in+) in heavy cover at mid tide line, not hatchlings. Good luck, and you have all of our full support in your efforts. Just enjoy… The not-so-cherished, Scott — In diamondbackterrapins@egroups.com, “Chun-Ming Chew”
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I live in the DC area (northern Virginia) and may be close enough to help with your Head Start program. I have raised my three DBT’s from hatchlings that I obtained from a captive breeder a year ago. But, I haven’t had the pleasure of incubating and hatching DBT’s and I would love to gain that experience. You can email me directly to my email address if you want. Thanks, Bob — In diamondbackterrapins@egroups.com, “Terrapin Station at USNA/GP”
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