General Care Discussion :: HELP Please! Think Turt may be preggers?!

[camee1991]

I have had Sami (girl) for about 4 years since she was quarter size and now she is 8 1/2 length and 7 1/2 width (shell to shell, top). There is NO male but I have heard that females can get "preggers" without male, but no "babies" will be fertilized...is that right...?

Then for the BIG question...I've read alot on here about kicking back legs, etc... (like preparing to lay eggs) which she is doing for a while now; but only since I put a few rocks in the bottom of her aquarium. Then I also read that you should feel the skin behind her around the back legs and tail? Well.. I have done that before and used to be mushy like fat..and tonite I did it and it feels like one hard knot on each side of her tail behind the legs! Is that eggs? Or is it normal? And what should I do? AHHHHHHHHH.....

I want to do the best I can for her and for her not to get all full of eggs if that is the case. Otherwise, her actions arent different than normal. She eats well, basks, swims great. But her kicking and just started sitting under the filter intake for periods of time is new...

Thanks in advance for ANY help! Cam

[camee1991]

Here is a couple pics (if they come out of my girl) TOBI...i said Sami before not thinking and that is my bird...DUH..sorry.
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w171 ... 0_5823.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w171 ... 0_5811.jpg

[SpotsMama]

You have a beautiful, gravid female!

You've probably already read what's on this site about eggs but just in case you haven't, here's the link:

http://www.redearslider.com/reproduction.html

Be sure and also read what's on the other links that are referenced on the above page.

A lot of people on here have had experience with eggs and will be more help than I am (my turtle's a male). But go ahead and read everything you can find so you can narrow your questions. Try the search function (at the top of each page) also and see what you find under "eggs".

Good luck!

[marisa]

You gently feel the area in front of the hind legs toward the stomach. If there are eggs, it should feel like grapes there.

She's grown an awful lot since you got her. Are you sure she's gravid? The kicking of the back legs would be more like digging motions. What's her appetite like? They often loose their appetites if they're gravid.

[industrial_girl_2000]

The area between the hind legs (where the tail is) is always hard because that is part of their skeleton. The area where you have to feel for eggs is were Marisa said, in FRONT of the hind legs. Feel gently, you don't want any eggs to break inside your turt in case she is gravid.

Another way to tell if she is gravid: she will be CRAZY trying to get out of her tank & doing all sorts of creative things trying to get out of the tank. And if you put her on a carpeted area, she may start digging into the carpet with her hind legs. These are other signs she may be gravid.

[camee1991]

Thanks SpotsMama. I will read and read if she is gravid and do what I need to do.

And Marisa? I should feel in "front of her hind legs"? I felt behind them? hmmm..Also her kicking motions are like , excessive back kicking ..I cant say digging cuz there isnt anything to dig in so it just ends up "kicking".

It is really strange and her sleeping positions under the filter is NEW and she does it ALOT! But besides that her appetite is great! No changes there.
And YES she is a HUGE one! She was already over 6" at 2 1/2 years old! I think she is stabilizing a little now..it looks so anyway!

THANKS! Cam

[camee1991]

Thanks Ind Girl! I guess I need to "feel" in the correct spot! ...will do that when I feed her! Thanks you guys!

PS..(On carpet if she is touched on her shell she digs into the carpet with her hind legs and dont stop!) Could that be a sign? Or is she just ticklish? lol Thats what I thought at first!

Cam

[industrial_girl_2000]

If you touch her on the top of the shell, she may think she is "wedged" and will wriggle around with her hind legs to get "unstuck". That is normal (my Sheba does the same thing when I let her out & touch the top of her shell while she is walking around).

The sign of being pregnant is if she is digging her hind legs WITHOUT you touching her shell.

[camee1991]

Ok. She only digs then so far in the water...but her appetite is good so probably "not" gravid then?

Cam

[camee1991]

OUCH! OK..Ind_girl...I tried to feel in "front" of the hind legs..and between being clawed..she keeps her legs in toooo tight and I cant feel much at all.
Will it be really noticeable if she is? Will it bulge out or something? Cuz I sure cant or should I say SHE wont let me feel really well there...lol help!

TIA, Cam

[industrial_girl_2000]

OUCH! OK..Ind_girl...I tried to feel in "front" of the hind legs..and between being clawed..she keeps her legs in toooo tight and I cant feel much at all.
Will it be really noticeable if she is? Will it bulge out or something? Cuz I sure cant or should I say SHE wont let me feel really well there...lol help!

TIA, Cam

I let my turtle walk on the carpet & the minute she stops, I can take a quick second while she is distracted and poke into the "fat bag" of one leg or the other (if I am lucky, I might be able to get both at the same time, but again, that's if I am LUCKY). That's how I do it. It's impossible to check them when they resist, as you already know!

[camee1991]

YES I know! And great idea! I'll try that! Maybe I'll get lucky!

Thanx, Cam