General Care Discussion :: turtle mating

[2TURTLES2]

hi, i have RES 3 inch male, MISS MAP 3 inch female...can they mate? i read that they can not..if she pregnant and i dont give her a nesting area will she die?

thanks

[Diamondbacks4Life]

Yes they can mate and yes she can lay eggs. Its very rare but has been seen: http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/world_ ... index.html

Most likely she will just lay the eggs in the water. Turtles usually dont pass eggs only when something is wrong physically with the egg but still look into a nesting area cause even without a male a female can lay eggs.

[2TURTLES2]

ok, thanks. my RES is just aggressive ...keeps dancing.

thanks again...i just dont know how to tell my daughter she has them backwards ;0)

[2TURTLES2]

Doing some reading and now I have more questions hahaha. The hole on the maps tale seems to be very noticeable and she seems to be running quickly against the glass. Today I notice her laying on the flat platform area I have looking very sad or like she was trying to do something. It it my imagination or should I start to build a nesting area. I have them in a 55gal tank with the water almost completely to the top. I also have the old 20gal tank that empty. Should I move them. Any advice would be help and to build a nesting area also. These are my daughters turtles but I've really come to love them as my pets. Please help. I think the experience of baby turns for my family would be great and the WIFE would have no choice hahaha. Thanks

[Diamondbacks4Life]

Its your imagination. The female is way to small to actually lay eggs. She needs to double in size before she is ready. Females dont lay eggs till they are close to 6inches in shell length. Also just a note, she aint at the 4inch mark yet. Could be a slim chance she turns out to be male yet.

[2TURTLES2]

Ok then it's my imagination but it would be wonderful if she/he was. If she/he was male the map would the res still do the mating thing with his hands ? Thanks I guess I'm just hopefully

[Diamondbacks4Life]

Well the waving of the claws is not only used as the mating dance but res and other turtles use it a dominate/territory dance. Just a way they say hey this is my area move away.