General Care Discussion :: female turtle question.....

[chamzilla80]

Hey there I was wondering where female RES's lay there eggs? And what are the signs of them needing to do so.

My RES has a basking spot at 80 and water at 70-75 depending on how cold it gets in the house. Has a tank heater but varies that slite degrees. She is sitting on her rock for a day now, she is not hungry. She will jump in the water if you try and touch her, but she has always done it. Her eyes are clear and she is not making weezing noises either. She is deficating normaly. OH and she is scratching on her basking rock. She is basking like superman so I am not sure what is going on.

Please any info would be helpful

[Boston_Zhao]

too cold, both basking and water. My basking area is 90 degrees. I use a water heater specially designed for turtles, it keeps water 78 degrees constantly.

[missibsu]

Here's a link on nest sites. http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/Nestsites.htm

I would say that the temp is a little low. 75-78 is ideal with basking temps 10 degrees warmer.

[jenaero]

Actually, 70-75 is fine for older/larger turtles. How big/old is she?

[missibsu]

I guess a lot depends on the preference of your turtle. If my water gets below 72, my turts become lathargic. I keep mine around 75-77.

[chamzilla80]

my turtle is large and around 13 years old. She was kept exclusivly in water for her whole life. I have a tank heater just for turtles also. I will up the temps and hopefully that helps. Thanks all.

I was still wondering about the egg question. Thanks though

[missibsu]

The link that I provided in my first post will give you a good idea on a suitable nest site for your turtle. At 13 years old, I would have thought she would have already laid some eggs.

[chamzilla80]

I have no idea as I have only had her for a few months. She is a rescue and I have no idea what she did before that.

Ok I will read it throughly Thanks again.

[missibsu]

If I had read your sig, I would have realized she was a rescue. You probably mentioned it elsewhere too, but I don't remember things like that. The site should really help. Some people watch for the signs too, and take them outside to their garden. I don't have any experience with this yet, but from what I understand females can be pretty picky.

[chamzilla80]

oh thanks I took her outside in the summer before it got cold. She had her own pool and took her out in the yard so she could run around. I take my half paralyzed iguana out there to. So I can watch them both. The turtle can really motor when she wants to go somewhere though. I have taken her out in the garden also.

Does anyone know what age they stop laying eggs?

[marisa]

I'm not sure if they totally stop laying eggs, although I'm guessing that with age they would lay fewer eggs less frequently.

My 6+ inch RES has been happily swimming around in a tank that's 69-70F according to the thermometer (no heater yet). He's eating well, too.