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I'm really worried that my turtle has eggs. I've had her for nearly 3 years now and when I got her, she was 1 1/2 - 2 inches. When I posted this somewhere else, I was told that this was too early and that RES usually start carrying eggs when they're 5. However, she doesn't hibernate in the winter and is subsequently about 6 -7 inches long.

Whenever she basks, she sometimes moves her back legs in a circular motion. She has recently become quite restless and tries to get out of the tank (I have paper up on two sides of the tank and a wall covers the third) even though it seems solid. I've tried to get a feel for eggs but whenever I pick her up, she tucks in her back legs. Otherwise, she still seems to be eating normally.
So is it still possible for her to be gravid even though she's probably under 5?

Edit: As of now she seems very restless... going up to bask, coming back down, going up halfway, changing her mind...
Edit #2: She seems to have calmed down quite a bit now...

It's possible she's gravid. Sexual maturity is more of a size issue than an age issue. Do you also have a male RES? Is she acting restless during the same times of the day? Would you have access to a place where she can try to make a nest?

If you have a place for her out of tank, where she can safely wander around then just follow her and when she stops and has her leg out, try to feel for it.

I (thank goodness) don't have a male RES so that's taken care of. I can make a nesting box but she wouldn't be able to access it in her tank so I think I might try to put her into the nesting box when she's particularly restless or basking just to be sure. I'll also let her wander around to try to feel the eggs. Thanks for all your help steve! Also, if she is gravid, would organic potting soil do for her nesting box? I can try finding some sand but I might not be able to.

I think whatever dirt/soil/sand you use will be fine. Make sure it's packed tight.

Update: I finally did get to poke her just in front of her back leg and didn't feel anything... but then again I don't really know the difference between what it feel like with an egg there or what it feels like without an egg there so I'll just try putting her in a nesting box when she's particularly restless. thanks!

If you feel anything, then it will be an egg. Hopefully she's just acting up and not gravid.

I really doubt she's gravid (even though she's still acting up) every time I see her trying to get out, I put her into her box and she still tries to get out. Either that or she's extremely picky about nesting spots. Thanks for all your help steve! Let's hope I don't need to worry about eggs for another year or two

my turtle was the same way she didn't like her box that we had made for her to lay eggs. if she has eggs you just barely stick your finger in and you can feel them pushing against your finger. i actually ended up taking her outside and the weather was about 45 degrees and she laid 7 of them. she was frantic at the same time everyday and when i say frantic she was climbing up her basking spot, trying to constantly get out of her tank, she wouldn't stop moving around hopefully this helps and good luck

muiyo wrote:Either that or she's extremely picky about nesting spots.

Sorry, I'm a little late to the game, I don't know how I missed this post.

If she is gravid, she will be picky about her nesting spot. She has to be comfortable with where she lays them. She's not going to just lay them right where you drop her. If she's stressed out, she's noting going to lay eggs.

-Michael