A total of six neonates have hatched and survived. Two from each of the females incubated at 29-30° C hatched on 7 February, an incubation period of 82 days, and two from "Lacey's" eggs incubated at 25-26° C, hatched on 24 and 26 February and incubation period of 99 and 101 days respectively. After emergence each neonate was checked for remaining umbilical and yolk and returned to the incubator for 24 hours to minimise stress and allow absorbtion of the yolk. After this period they were again checked and if the yolk was still not absorbed they were returned to the incubator. Once the umbilical region was sealed, each neonate was removed and placed on a wet papaer towel substrate and returned to the incubator for a further 24 hour period. The neonates were then removed from the incubators and then weighed, measured and marked, Table 3, using a scute notching system with their studbook numbers.
    Neonates are housed in separate open plastic trays, 500x300x200mm. Shallow water (approximately 20mm deep) covers the bottomand a hide board and fresh palm frond are in place to ensure adequate camoflage. They are kept at ambient temperature (25-27° C) in a low lit room and taken outside for 1-3 hours daily. The time spent outside depends on the air temperature and the amount of direct sunlight. During the outside period, they will move out from their camoflage and bask. Once they finish basking and return to their camoflage we return them to their indoor area.

     Small live fish and shrimp were placed in their enclosures. All of the neonates were feeding daily within 5 to 12 days of their hatch dates. Currently their average daily food consumption is four fish and one shrimp. They are very secretive and no feeding has been observed. Although being handled daily for enclosure cleaning , they appear to be showing no signs of stress and are "happy snappers".     Banks, C. and Meikle, W. (1994) Taxon Advisory Group Action Plan for Reptiles and Amphibians. ASMP. 45pp.

Cited References

     Pritchard, P.C.H. (1989) The Alligator Snapping Turtle: Biology and Conservation. Milwaukee Public Museum. 104pp.
     Thomson, S.A. (1994) Studbook for the Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macroclemys temmincki) 2nd Edition. Report to the Taxon Advisory Group.
     Wilhoft, D.C., Hotaling, E. & Franks, P. (1983) Effects of temperature on sex determination in embryos of the Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina. Journal of Herpetology. 17(1):38-42.
     Yntema, C.L. (1979) Temperature levels and periods of sex determination during incubation of eggs of Chelydra serpentina. Journal of Morphology. 159:17-28.

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