General Care Discussion :: When do RES lay eggs?

[swegin]

I have had my two RES for a year now, and they are about 6" long. There nails are not very long so I am assuming they female. Can someone tell me how big they are when they start laying eggs? Also does this happen at any random time of the year, or does it happen at one specific time?

Thanks,

Swegin

[steve]

Without males, egg laying will be random and there's a good chance it won't happen at all.

[sflemin2]

Mine have always laid them in June after tank upgrades. But shes only done it twice and my other female hasn't at all. i hope for your sake, they don't lay them at all because its a pain!

[SeriSlider]

Im concerned about the same things. I read somewhere to check to see if she has eggs to push a little by her tail and she freaks out eventhough its a slight push (only did that once). My RES is about 7in in a 20gal (I know, dont lash me; looking for a new tank as soon as I can afford it) and Im wondering how the egg thing goes. What should I be looking for? How do I know when she's 'sexually/reproductively mature'?

[swegin]

I need to the same thing! Any input would be awesome

[steve]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY2pRyQgn9o[/youtube]

[SeriSlider]

Yeah thats the vid I saw but it doesnt say at what age/size turtles begin carrying eggs. And Im not good at that test bc my turtle will pull her legs in so I cant feel.

[steve]

RES around the size of the turtle in the video and smaller can become gravid. If you have the room to allow your RES to roam around, just follow her until she stops. If she's got her leg out, try to feel for the eggs.

[sflemin2]

Mine laid them at 5 or 6 years the first time

[Diamondbacks4Life]

Res around 5-6inches+ will lay eggs regardless of age oh and i couldnt put specific info in that video because it was general for all turtles on how to tell for eggs but specific turtles species have different sizes needed for laying eggs.

[Trevor's_Mom]

My RES Trevor started laying eggs at 3 years old and continued to lay them every year, usually in the Jan/Feb months till he was 10 years old. Then there was a drought and no eggs at at until this year, now at the age of 18! Interestingly enough is that I upgraded his tank when he was 17, and he started with laying again almost exactly a year after the upgrade. It's a pretty sweet new tank so I wasn't surprised when he started popping them out again.

*yes my turtle is obviously a girl, but I named him a boys name and have always refered to him as a him.