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female turtle question.....

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 12:10 am
by chamzilla80
Hey there I was wondering where female RES's lay there eggs? And what are the signs of them needing to do so.

My RES has a basking spot at 80 and water at 70-75 depending on how cold it gets in the house. Has a tank heater but varies that slite degrees. She is sitting on her rock for a day now, she is not hungry. She will jump in the water if you try and touch her, but she has always done it. Her eyes are clear and she is not making weezing noises either. She is deficating normaly. OH and she is scratching on her basking rock. She is basking like superman so I am not sure what is going on.

Please any info would be helpful :)

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:13 am
by Boston_Zhao
too cold, both basking and water. My basking area is 90 degrees. I use a water heater specially designed for turtles, it keeps water 78 degrees constantly.

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 10:37 am
by missibsu
Here's a link on nest sites. http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/Nestsites.htm

I would say that the temp is a little low. 75-78 is ideal with basking temps 10 degrees warmer.

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 10:38 am
by jenaero
Actually, 70-75 is fine for older/larger turtles. How big/old is she?

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 10:47 am
by missibsu
I guess a lot depends on the preference of your turtle. If my water gets below 72, my turts become lathargic. I keep mine around 75-77.

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 1:32 pm
by chamzilla80
my turtle is large and around 13 years old. She was kept exclusivly in water for her whole life. I have a tank heater just for turtles also. I will up the temps and hopefully that helps. Thanks all.

I was still wondering about the egg question. Thanks though :)

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 1:56 pm
by missibsu
The link that I provided in my first post will give you a good idea on a suitable nest site for your turtle. At 13 years old, I would have thought she would have already laid some eggs.

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 4:58 pm
by chamzilla80
I have no idea as I have only had her for a few months. She is a rescue and I have no idea what she did before that.

Ok I will read it throughly :) Thanks again. :)

PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 11:11 pm
by missibsu
If I had read your sig, I would have realized she was a rescue. You probably mentioned it elsewhere too, but I don't remember things like that. The site should really help. Some people watch for the signs too, and take them outside to their garden. I don't have any experience with this yet, but from what I understand females can be pretty picky.

PostPosted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 11:28 pm
by chamzilla80
oh thanks :) I took her outside in the summer before it got cold. She had her own pool and took her out in the yard so she could run around. I take my half paralyzed iguana out there to. So I can watch them both. The turtle can really motor when she wants to go somewhere though. I have taken her out in the garden also.

Does anyone know what age they stop laying eggs?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 5:03 pm
by marisa
I'm not sure if they totally stop laying eggs, although I'm guessing that with age they would lay fewer eggs less frequently.

My 6+ inch RES has been happily swimming around in a tank that's 69-70F according to the thermometer (no heater yet). He's eating well, too.