General Care Discussion :: STEVE..or anyone who has had gravid RES.....

[steve]

I haven't come across digging on the floor/carpet before, though I have heard of it. I think it helps if the area seems natural without distractions. If there are obstructions in the ground like large rocks and roots, then she would search for a new spot.

Good luck on the farm! Keep a good eye on her, especially if she might want to bury herself like Kristin mentioned

[Kayra33]

Industrial Girl,

How often does Sheba have to nest and show nesting behavior? I'm waiting for the day that my girl becomes gravid and hope that she easily responds to a man made environment rather than taking her outside for awhile. I mean you have to do what you have to do but......I don't have an area outside. Brooks pretty much likes her tank and goes for walks outside every so often.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Industrial Girl,

How often does Sheba have to nest and show nesting behavior? I'm waiting for the day that my girl becomes gravid and hope that she easily responds to a man made environment rather than taking her outside for awhile. I mean you have to do what you have to do but......I don't have an area outside. Brooks pretty much likes her tank and goes for walks outside every so often.

Sheba hasn't shown any signs of gravid behavior ever since I gave away my male turtle 7 yrs ago. When the 2 of them were together in the same tank, she would try to nest about twice a year.

[Kayra33]

Industrial Girl,

Doesn't Sheba still have to get out of her tank to lay her eggs? My Brooksie has never had a male around and hasn't become gravid yet but won't I still have to take her out of her tank? I don't think that Brooks has even seen another RES (other than her mom and siblings) since I got her as a hatchling and immediately took her home to PA with me. She always seems content and happy by herself

Why did you give away your male RES? For that reason? If I'm being nosy you can tell me that it's none of my business if you want, I just like your stories You've had Sheba for so long I know that I could stand to learn a lot from you.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Thanks Kayra33! I have no problem answering any questions you have about my turtles!

Yes, all gravid turtles need to be out of the tank to lay eggs. When I said previously that Sheba was in the same tank with the male turtle, I meant that they *lived* in the same tank together. But when she was gravid, I would take her out of the tank because she honestly wouldn't stay in there anyway (always seemed to find a way out of the tank anyway). She would dig with her hind legs in the carpet & strain really hard. Eventually, she would dig her way under the bean bag we had in our living room & lay her eggs under there. That is NOT the way to handle a gravid turtle situation, but at the time, there were no vets & no information about how to help a gravid turtle. We did try to make a box with dirt in it, but Sheba would not dig in it. It didn't help that 1/2 the time it was Winter & there was snow on the ground so I couldn't take Sheba outside to try to lay her eggs outside.

Thank goodness vet medicine has come a long way in the last 10 yrs.....nowadays you can take your turtle to get x-rayed if you have a problem, and there are better medicines to help the turtle lay eggs. And there are forums like this where we can all share information!

I gave away the male RES because he & Sheba were fighting so loudly in their tank that it would literally wake the dead. It was getting dangerous between them and I was sure someone was going to end up permanently injured. Between Nelson's tail getting bitten/dislocated, Sheba's arm getting bitten, Nelson's nails getting bitten off, Sheba pulling Nelson off the basking platform by his leg, etc. it was a BAD situation which got WAY better when Sheba became a solitary creature. She does NOT like having other turtles around, that's for sure.

[Kayra33]

Ok, I understand now....I'm glad that I don't have another turtle, just Brooksie♥ I love her. I think that the females sound the most territorial after listening to everybody here. Brooks tears after anything in her tank and looks for something else to rip apart. I have a fish hiding decoration and it's about the size of another turtle. She's amazed by it and bites it all of the time. She doesn't do it to the little one, just the one that to her would resemble a turtle.

I am trying to find the post about the 90 year old turtle and the story but can't find it....can you tell me where it's at?

[kmichael55]

It's in the introduction section, by cribeiro i think, it's called Hi turtle talkers

[Kayra33]

Thanks kstewart55!!