All Turtles Message Board

lkitsch · Level 2 Joined: 28 Nov 2001 Posts: 28

I have a few females in a large indoor pond, with plenty of swimming and basking room. However, it has no internal nesting area for them to lay their eggs. I set up a large bin nearby with plenty of the proper sandy soil. When I notice one of them exhibiting the telltale signs of being gravid, I put her in the bin. But, alas, all she does is try to escape. She usually ends up laying the eggs in the water, where the ones not eaten I remove and destroy. But I know that is not the optimal way for this to happen. I also know turtles can be very choosy as to where they lay their eggs. The idea of some kind of nesting area INSIDE the pond won't work---it will only end up with the soil getting into the water and mucking up the filtration system. Any ideas?

dixieee · Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 2:03 am Post subject:

few females..no males?? why would u worry about the eggs not being eaten since they're not fertilized. try putting the nesting area as a basking one. maybe a small container on a floating dock or something
_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

lkitsch · Level 2 Joined: 28 Nov 2001 Posts: 28

There was a male, but that's not an issue---I'd destroy the eggs anyway because I don't want babies. The issue is that I have read and been told that if the female cannot find a good nesting site---that is, dirt she can dig in, as in nature---she will become distressed and try to retain the eggs until he she can't keep them in any more, and then lay them in the water. But the stress is bad and she could become egg bound from it.

Putting a dirt basking area inside the pond will muck up the filter because they will surely drag dirt into the water. I'm trying to see if there is a way I can encourage them to lay their eggs in a separate nesting box when I put them into it, after they show signs of wanting to lay eggs.

dixieee · Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 5:56 am Post subject:

why do u keep the male with them then?? ok it might not be of my business but this is similar to abortion.

anyways, u can make it as a high place, maybe something like when ppl do the basking area on top of the whole setup
_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u