Page 1 of 1

turtle wont lay eggs

PostPosted: Fri May 01, 2009 11:39 pm
by threshold
hiya everybody, so my turtle was showing signs off eggs a few weeks ago..so i started putting her in a nesting area...i followed all the guidelines in the info sheets and now weeks later still nothing..you can quiteclearly feel and see the eggs on either side of her tail.

she now basks 90% of the time and pretty much non stop back leg flicking. im starting to get worried.

how can i help her along?

Thanks guys

PostPosted: Sat May 02, 2009 1:42 am
by SpotsMama
Have you tried taking her outside? Most turtles prefer out of doors to nesting boxes. They like ground somewhat softened like in a flower bed, and somewhat sheltered, like under some bushes or leaves. You may need to spend a good deal of time out there - they seem to take their time digging the hole(s).

If she were mine I'd get her to a herp vet right away. A vet can administer a drug to help her lay her eggs.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

PostPosted: Sat May 02, 2009 5:00 am
by threshold
SpotsMama wrote:Have you tried taking her outside? Most turtles prefer out of doors to nesting boxes. They like ground somewhat softened like in a flower bed, and somewhat sheltered, like under some bushes or leaves. You may need to spend a good deal of time out there - they seem to take their time digging the hole(s).

If she were mine I'd get her to a herp vet right away. A vet can administer a drug to help her lay her eggs.

Good luck. Keep us posted.


its very cold spring here at the moment....closest herp vet is about 3-4 hours away,...will keep trying.

cheers

PostPosted: Sat May 02, 2009 3:27 pm
by marisa
She may be gravid, but the eggs are not located on either side of the tail---they would be felt in front of the hind legs toward the stomach. If she's flicking her hind legs while she's basking, this is quite common and is something my male RES does. He's reacting to the heat from the lamp.

It's possible she's reacting to the cool weather. Is she eating when offered food? A gravid turtle often loses her appetite.

PostPosted: Sat May 02, 2009 10:17 pm
by threshold
not eating as much as she used to...on either side of her tail are two hard lumps which i assumed were eggs...if its not then they seem to be two inflammed lumps,

cheers

PostPosted: Sun May 03, 2009 10:05 am
by Diamondbacks4Life
It can take time too. Turtles can hold there eggs very long. My turtle took 3 months for her to lay her eggs.

Whats your nesting box like. What are you using she may no like what you have setup for her.

PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2009 12:16 am
by threshold
nesting area is 50/50 mix sand and compost..but started as just sand.its about 250mm deep ( around 11 inchs).

Thanks

PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2009 9:30 pm
by Diamondbacks4Life
You should try adding some plants to make it feel more natural. I know my turtles like to lay there eggs under things.

Mine dig right under the plastic thing
Image

PostPosted: Tue May 05, 2009 1:00 pm
by marisa
Those are not eggs on either side of the tail. Eggs would be located elsewhere as explained above.