General Care Discussion :: Turtle Layed Eggs

[MEL]

Hello! I'm so glad that I found this forum because I've been wanting to ask this question for a while. First of all, my daughter bought a turtle five years ago. She named him Louie. For five years, we raised this turtle as a boy, but one day, I found two eggs in the aquarium and figured out that this turtle was a girl! Six days later, I woke up and saw that her aquarium water was milky because she layed three more eggs. I had no idea that females layed eggs (or became gravid) unless they mated. My question is - will she lay clutches every year? Should I take her to the vet to make sure she's not retaining any more eggs? I have a basking area for her, of course, but I haven't set up a nesting area because I don't have room in her aquarium. She has layed a total of five eggs and that happened about 3-4 months ago. Any help and suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[spaceapple]

I bet that was a surprise! I haven't had any experience with my own turtles laying eggs (they're still little), but I do know that a healthy female with lay several clutches per year. About the nesting area - you don't actually need one in the aquarium. Whenever you notice your turtle acting strangely (like she's trying to escape) it's a good sign that she's ready to lay eggs. You can then just take her out in your yard and let her wander around for a bit until she finds a spot she likes (this may take several tries). Here's a link to a very informative page about eggs: http://www.redearslider.com/reproduction.html

[MEL]

Thank you! I appreciate your comments. I'll make sure I keep a watch on her. I think I'll be able to tell when she's ready again because I could see a significant change in her behavior right before she layed the eggs. She was SO restless and seemed like she wanted the heck out of that aquarium. She ended up laying her eggs underneath her plexiglass basking dock. Poor thing. I feel badly that I didn't have a proper nesting place for her which probably caused alot of stress.

I'll try taking her out in the yard next time. Thanks again!

[steve]

You'd rather have a nesting area outside of the tank. As for egg laying, most of use have captive turtles who are active all year round so it might not be a regular event.

The yard can be a great place, make sure you let her pick a place and supervise/observe from a distance. As you noticed, restlessness is a primary behavioral change.

[JimmyJam]

You know, this made me wonder too... Is there any definate MAJOR sign to watch for IF females are gravid? I noticed Mary Jane has been restless aswell, but then again I did just giver her a new home this weekend.

[chrisinva]

Newb alert!!! Meaning myself So you're telling me a female turtle can lay eggs without having (contact) with a male turtle?

[Daniel3507]

Newb alert!!! Meaning myself So you're telling me a female turtle can lay eggs without having (contact) with a male turtle?

yep. not such great news is it haha

[chrisinva]

Newb alert!!! Meaning myself So you're telling me a female turtle can lay eggs without having (contact) with a male turtle?

yep. not such great news is it haha

well I can hope I have males LOL

[Fuzzy Hamster]

In general, any species that lays eggs (hens, fish, turtles, etc), will do so regardless of whether they have mated with a male or not. The difference if they have mated, is that the egg(s) may be fertilized and can hatch into babies. Otherwise you end up with eggs just like the ones you buy at the grocery store.

[MEL]

I forgot to mention, however, that my turtle is a cannibal as she ate her own eggs. I couldn't get to them in time to remove them from her aquarium. I just found pieces of shell and remnants of what looked like was the inside of the egg. Gag.