General Care Discussion :: eggs?

[Hoooneylynn]

Hi, this is my first post. I enjoy reading these posts when I have a question about my turtle. I have had my RES for about two months now. Her name is Karlyn. The water temperature is 75-80 degrees, I have a basking flood light on one side of the tank and UVA/UVB light on the other. I have a basking platform under the basking light. The temp of the platform is 82-85 degrees. I have an adequate filter and clean the tank every 5 days. She has quite a crazy personality too! She eats frozen aquatic diet, pellets, romaine lettuce, and sometimes frozen shrimp diet. I just took her to the vet today, and they told me she is a girl! I thought she was a boy because she has fairly long claws, and I have seen her do the mating dance fluttering claws into a mirror a few times before. Also the cloaca is closer to the tail than the shell... the only thing is her tail is not fat but long... I don't know how the vet could tell, I didn't go in the room with her. And they really didn't tell me anything because it was a free visit. Now I am worried about eggs.. can anyone tell me when she will lay eggs, or is this just random? What are signs that she has eggs? I know reduced appetite, and kicking at the butt... I have been watching her the past few days because my boyfriend said he thought he saw her eat a rock! I removed all the rocks, and she pooped within two days of my boyfriend seeing her. She is not lethargic. She is still eating and swimming aroud a lot. She is not kicking at her butt. I will take her to a vet immediately if she shows these symptoms.. I am watching to see if she will pass the rock, IF she did eat it. I want to be prepared for eggs...Will she lay eggs in sand? or dirt? or both? I know that she might not want to lay them in water, and there could be egg retention. I don't think she has eggs now, but I want to be prepared and build a place for her to lay eggs. There is no male, so the eggs will not be fertile, but I do plan on getting her a husband sooner or later Smile Thanks, and any help would be appreciated! ~ Jessica

[marisa]

Just curious, but how big is your turtle (shell length). Can you post a pic of your turtle showing the nails and tail?

You need to have the basking light and the UVB light next to each other over the basking area...

[Hoooneylynn]

Here's my baby! Yeah, the UVA/UVB light is pretty long, so it is very close to the basking light. She is 5 inches long.







cloaca


doesn't look that long here, but looks longer in person!
shell is starting to shed.. does it look ok?




Thanks! Guess I went a little picture crazy! Hehe...

[Boogerbutt02]

Very pretty girl!!!

[SpotsMama]

She is a beauty!

[steve]

Beautiful girl. 2 turts can be pretty complicated, especially if they can't get along or if you can't provide enough space.

If she can't find a proper nesting spot, she may lay them in water (bad) or retain them (very bad).

[Hoooneylynn]

Thank you! You guys think it's a girl too huh? I was quite surprised. I know her claws are not as long as some males I have seen, but I wasn't sure when they grew that long. And what about the mating dance? Does that mean girls do this too? Or was it a territorial dance? Does anyone know if egg laying is random or does it occur in certain months? Thanks!
~Jessica

[Hoooneylynn]

Yes, I am not going to get her a husband until I have like 100 gallon tank at least! Thank you!

[megcornell]

even a 100 gallon tank will be too small for two adult turtles...and that can lead to ugly fighting and then separation which would be costly as you'd have to get a second set up or part with one of your turtles. You may want to seriously consider not getting a second turtle, surprisingly turtles aren't very social so karlyn wouldn't mind laying eggs solo

[Hoooneylynn]

Yeah I know... ten gallons for each inch shell length.. I would have to consider both growing up to 12 inches, 120 gallons for each ... I could get a 300 gallon in a few years... That would probably cost like five thousand dollars. I'm not going to get another turtle now, but I am planning and I understand the risks of them not liking each other!

[CountryGirl68]

She a beauty!! Yep, she's a "she". Her nails are not long at all compared to how long the males' nails get.

[Hoooneylynn]

I got her some river rocks that she definetly cannot swallow! She freaked out at first and started biting them, but shes happy now! I have to prepare for eggs, so does anyone know if egg laying is random, or does it occur only in certain months? I have been trying to find info on egg laying, and I can only find mating season months, and months they lay fertile eggs. I don't know if those are the only months or not. It's funny now that I have to call her a girl, she was always my "handsome basker" ! hehe!

[sneakyburrito]

as far as upgrading, buy a stock tank or rubbermaid container. they are much cheaper and hold more water at a WAAAAAAAAY cheaper price. ive seen 300 gallon ones for around 200 some bucks. although they may not be as attractive as a glass tank, its alot easier on your wallet.

[Hoooneylynn]

Wow, I didn't know they made them that big! Where do they sell them? They are longer than taller right? I could get that in the mean time... but yeah I'm actually looking foward to splurging on a HUGE tank after I finish nursing school I was even looking at the 500 gallon ones. Do they make clear ones? Or only ones that are like dark blue where you can't see through them? Wouldn't the heater burn it? What are stock tanks? Thanks! I love the pics of the ascending basking area that a lot of people have.. never seen that before but I would be afraid of her falling down! Anyone know about eggs, eggs, eggs? Thanks everyone!

[CountryGirl68]

I think the egg laying is random but I'm not sure. My friend who has had both a female and male for several years (they are over 6" each) didn't even know about having a nesting area and her female has not yet laid eggs - she was checked out by a vet and was not retaining eggs. But I've read others here whose females have laid eggs at a much smaller size.

You should put up a nesting area as soon as you can just in case. This way she'll know it's there and when she's ready, she can "do her thing".