General Care Discussion :: NESTING

[Oscar Doscar]

Hi all, just a few questions on my RES.
After my RES have mated, do the females not like nesting close to their own environment?
I have a male and female in an outdoor pond, over the last month I have noticed my female escaping her enclosure to go and nest.
Also I live In Auckland, New Zealand, at the moment it is our Summer, does anyone know if her eggs will hatch or is our summers not hot enough?
She lays her eggs in dirt too, so not sure if that's what their meant to do?

[ljapa]

I can't comment on temp, but I live over 200 meters from a pond with RES. I've seen one turtle lay eggs in the yard, and have seen many others on the road looking for places to lay.

And, yes, they bury them in the dirt. Sex is partly determined by the temp.

[steve]

They'd want to lay where they feel it's the best to do so. It's very instinctive and hard to predict. It helps if it's natural looking and not too dry.

[Oscar Doscar]

Thankyou for your replies. the temperature here is about 28degrees Celcius. Can the eggs hatch? The dirt she is laying in is very moist. How long does it take for eggs to hatch?

[steve]

If she's relatively young and this is her first clutch, the eggs might not be very healthy. For some general info, check here: http://www.redearslider.com/reproduction.html

[Oscar Doscar]

How long does it take for the eggs to hatch

[steve]

Eggs, provided they have been properly taken care of, will hatch in 60 to 80 days. Eggs in artificial incubation may hatch several days earlier. A hatchling emerges by slicing the shell with its egg tooth. The hatchling may still be absorbing nutrients of the yolk sac, which should not be removed or disturbed. It may not show immediate interest in eating.