Can you guess?

[ssshane]

I was contacted by a local rehabber to go collect some eggs. The home owner contacted him when the turtle laid the eggs in their drive and didn't cover them. They were worried about the large number of fire ants on their property destroying the eggs. Can you guess the species?

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Snapping%20Turtles/19511_1006170782734594_5638992074105118641_n_zpsqt wu53mv.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Snapping%20Turtles/11755269_1006171092734563_8665508147126857017_n_zp swck9zyow.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Snapping%20Turtles/11262313_1006171026067903_7244040729155584843_n_zp sbu28nzkd.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Snapping%20Turtles/11717516_10207148414733991_4958453226574460840_o_z psl2lgbddv.jpg

[eminart]

I'm torn between common snapper and spiny softshell. I think I'll guess spiny softshell.

[Albert Clark]

Possibly a olive ridley sea turtle. Final answer. Haha.

[Jim Smith]

Assuming that fisherman on the boat in the cove is fishing for bass (freshwater), I would have to say a snapping turtle. It looks like there's a pretty good distance between the front feet where she anchored herself to dig the nest so it would have to be a very big soft-shelled turtle. I'd say snapping turtle.

[mrgrimm]

Whatever the species, seems to be a bad choice of location, and she just left it open? Bad, bad mommy!

[ssshane]

It is a soft shell. All but two of the eggs are doing fine. I can't wait til they hatch

[ssshane]

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Snapping%20Turtles/12006136_957565404316676_7532160306730652656_n_zps qe9zyy4m.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Snapping%20Turtles/12038259_957565964316620_8482281003322712048_n_zps 6z4sdgui.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Snapping%20Turtles/12019870_957565830983300_7230502037885257235_n_zps is6tming.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Snapping%20Turtles/12036885_957565890983294_1018165993074541963_n_zps emtwmmu4.jpg

[SnoopySnake]

Aww babies! So cute!

[ssshane]

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Snapping%20Turtles/12052632_957706190969264_122160548055999528_o_zps1 d00ryyh.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Snapping%20Turtles/12030515_957706207635929_4060237087884628671_o_zps q4sum7ca.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/Snapping%20Turtles/12017571_957706717635878_5068879263001530338_o_zps bxizxorb.jpg

[Jim Smith]

What a very cool ending to this story!!! Nice work saving and hatching these babies out and thanks for sharing the story and the photos.

[ssshane]

Thanks Jim, I have really enjoyed it. I set up two nice tanks tonight with adequate filtration and once their bellies have closed up from the cords I will put half in one and half in the other.

[eminart]

Good job hatching them.

And, what did I win? ;)

[chairman]

Are you allowed to release at least some of them back into the wild? I can't imagine how large of a pond you'd need to build to house that many adult softshells...

[Albert Clark]

Thanks for all your hard work ssshane! Kudos also.

[Albert Clark]

How long will it take to differentiate the sexes in these or any soft shells. Thanks.