![](https://i0.wp.com/tortstork.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/IMG_9317-e1548908550980.jpg?fit=768%2C1024&ssl=1)
The first successful egg was a freshly laid Russian tortoise egg. It was laid on 9/7/16, and shipped on the same day.
![](https://i0.wp.com/tortstork.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/IMG_8794-e1548908954133.jpg?fit=768%2C1024&ssl=1)
The egg was safely delivered to Garden State Tortoise and placed in an incubator. The incubator was set for 89F with humidity around 65-70%.
![](https://i0.wp.com/tortstork.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/IMG_6846-e1548909005346.jpg?fit=1020%2C952&ssl=1)
Two days later, on 9/10/16, the egg started to chalk. You can see the white circle appear in the center of the egg. Chalking is the first sign of a viable egg. It does not mean the egg will go on to be fertile, but it is a very good chance that it will. I have never seen a fertile egg that didn’t chalk, but I have seen non-fertile eggs that have chalked. Regardless, the odds of an egg being fertile are much higher when it chalks.
![](https://i0.wp.com/tortstork.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/IMG_5625.jpg?fit=1020%2C765&ssl=1)
65 days later, on 9/11/16, the egg started to hatch. Tortstork’s very first successful egg incubated into a gorgeous, healthy, perfect Russian tortoise. Its name is Tortstork!
![](https://i0.wp.com/tortstork.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/IMG_4828-e1548910286610.jpg?fit=616%2C1024&ssl=1)
Tortstork is a stunning 3 year old female, who is only a couple years away from continuing on her legacy.