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So as I wrote before my turtle was desperately making nests but not laying eggs, she had a morning and late afternoon ritual of going crazy in her tank and asking to be let out so she could go and dig

For the past two days she has stopped
I felt a few hard things when feeling her for eggs today so I guess if those in fact are eggs they are still in there

I don't want her to get sick because she is retaining them

Is it normal for them to just give up at one point? She was trying for over a week!

Over a few winters ago, I unsuccessfully tried to have my RES use a nesting box. She stopped exhibiting signs after a couple of weeks and eventually laid them in her tank.

Aloha from Kaua'i!

Good to read this thread....I actually started one because my 7 year old female (who has laid infertile eggs about 3 or 4 times before) has been frantically pacing and digging and trying to lay eggs without success....she is also pretty much not eating (a bite every couple of days) since last
Thursday - so I was worried, but always in the past she has exhibited pretty much the same behavior and been able to lay her eggs....I guess I'll just have to wait awhile longer.

Especially since on the island where I live - there is no vet who is knowledgeable about turtles...so nowhere to take her anyway.

Janet R.

Last weekend my turtle finally laid her eggs
She dug at the bottom of her tank and did it, about 10-12 quite there were broken pieces in there so thats the estimate
I was not there to see them so thats just what I was told

At least that issue is over and done with...

Aloha from Kaua'i!

From the time you noticed her behavior change (digging, pacing, not eating).....how long would you estimate it was before she laid her eggs?

I came home today with high hopes that she'd have laid them - but she is still pacing all over - I have about 3 different "nests" set up for her, but she never settles down in one.

Thank you for your answer!

Janet

It was almost 3 weeks before she laid them

If you have good weather outside put her out in fluffy soil and let her dig (supervised ofcourse) if the nests you have set up aren't working
I didn't do that because its still cold here in Canada

Aloha from Kaua'i!

Thanks very much! She has started eating again - since I'm tempting her with pink salmon in water - so at least that issue is a non-concern - I don't really have a spot outside our condo to put her to dig - so I've made about 3 "nesting" areas for her inside the condo - she has always laid them inside with no problem before - so I'm hoping she does it soon - but I very much appreciate your info - 3 weeks - she is only at a little over one right now since she started digging around. Really active and strong, so I think she'll be alright and eventually drop them - I just hope where I can find them - lol!

Mahalo!

Aloha from Idaho!
I was wondering if you could post a photo of the nesting areas you made for your RES. I've got a first time egg laying turtle and I'm having trouble getting her to settle down and lay them.

Aloha from Kaua'i!

My female RES laid 2 eggs about 2 weeks ago and immediately started eating again - she didn't use any of the "nests" that I made for her however - I found one in the bedroom and one in the kitchen - just on the floor! Weird! Especially since she generally lays about 8 eggs in a clutch - this time was different. She is completely back to normal in every way at this point, so I'm pretty sure she isn't retaining any.

Sorry, but the "nests" were just old towels that I wadded up and put around the house to entice her - I've used dirt in a shallow box before but she has never been the least bit interested in digging in dirt - my turts pretty much "live" outside their tank and then sleep in them at night and eat - they have their own "basking" areas around my condo - I just have a large rubbermaid tank that I clean out everyday after they eat and poop.