My EBT Daisy laid eggs last year and I found 4 baby box turtles in the enclosure during a storm at the beginning of September. After that, and to avoid any more unexpected pregnancies, I separated the male from the female. Although I've read that female EBTs can hold sperm and lay viable eggs for years after one meeting with a male.

She has been displaying nesting behavior for the past few months by excavating holes all over her enclosure. I've tried to feel for eggs, but I cant tell if she is gravid.

Well, I have been weighing my box turtles about every month and keeping a log of their gains and losses. Daisy gained a significant amount of weight in the month of May, but then last month lost 12 grams in less than a month:

5/15/09 - 546 g
6/12/09 - 572 g
7/25/09 - 570 g
8/15/09 - 558 g

Is it possible that this weight loss could be attributed to the deposit of eggs? If so, should I search for them and incubate them rather than leaving them in the enclosure?

Here are my concerns: If she laid eggs after July 25th, they wouldnt hatch for approx 3 months (I think), which would leave them to hatch around the end of October - Would it be too cold outside for them at night? Also, I would worry about the female eating the hatchlings or pulling up the nest in the meantime.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks in advance!



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1.0.0 Jack Russel Terrier: Skipper
0.1.0 Miniature Pinscher: Bambi
1.1.4 Eastern Box Turtles: Dozer, Daisy, Magnum and 3 hatchlings (Chuck Norris, Bumblebee and Higgins)
0.1.0 Red Eared Slider: Rosie

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