General Care Discussion :: Female Turtle

[k23]

Hi,

I keep a single female turtle, a red eared slider. I've had her for 7 years now.
She hasn't been showing any signs that she wants to lay eggs. She has NEVER popped out any eggs before. Is this normal?

She looks fine and healthy. Her behavior hasn't changed in any way.
I keep her outdoors in a plastic water trough with a piece of drift wood for her to bask on and this is definitely not suitable for her to lay eggs. The weather here is tropical. I've heard about egg binding and I don't want that to happen to my turtle.
Any suggestions on what I should do?

[steve]

You can always try to feel for eggs, but it's pretty normal for single females not to be gravid. What's the water temperature in the trough like?

[k23]

Water temperature changes, I think it is about 25-29'C depending on the weather. It's usually between 27-29'C daytime, when it's bright and sunny outside.

Her last interaction with other turtles was when she was just a few months old, still small about 2inches.
And back then she was shy and didn't interact much with her other tank mates, rather swims and basks alone.
Can this have anything to do with how she matures?

[sflemin2]

RES are loners . Also, not all females lay eggs. You should be happy if she doesnt because it sure is stressful! You will probably notice a pretty big change in behavior if she wants to lay eggs. They frantically try to escape so they can find a place to lay eggs. If she does end up getting eggs, is there anywhere outside that she can safely walk around? She could lay them in the dirt if she is comfortable with it

[k23]

Thanks everyone for the help. I feel much better now..

[k23]

Do female turtles have a habit of digging? I tried feeling for eggs, but couldn't feel any. Yesterday I took her out and placed her in the garden. I let her out for about a few hrs while watching her through my window and I noticed she started digging near some bushes.

When she finally started to come out of the area she was digging after about 2 hrs, I placed her back in her tub. Then I checked to see if she laid any eggs but I didn't find any.

[sflemin2]

Is she digging with her front or back legs?

[k23]

First I saw her dig with her front legs a couple of times at different areas while smelling the ground. Then she settles down in one area and digs with her back legs. She doesn't dig deep, stops just about 1 to 1.5 inch deep and stays there.

[sflemin2]

Is there any way to set up a nesting area that she can get in to whenever she pleases (since she is outside)? Digging usually is a sign that she wants to lay eggs. Have you felt her for eggs?

[k23]

I tried to feel for eggs again but still couldn't feel any. I take her out everyday now. I've set up a place for her to lay eggs. I leave some water in a shallow dish just in case she needs a drink or something. I only put her in water to feed her and let her do her turtle thing on alternate days for a few hours, usually in the middle of the day when its hot.

Today this came out of her






She seems fine and doesn't bother about the bright yellow things in the water. At first I thought it might be egg yolk but on closer inspection it was more 'membrane' or 'skin' like.
Does this mean trouble?

[steve]

I think it's just part of her being gravid. I vaguely recall seeing something like that in my tank when my female RES was gravid.

[sflemin2]

hmm..I have never seen that before. The yolk will not stay solid like that, it makes the water cloudy. I wonder what it is