Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,
I was wondering if anybody could advise me on a problem. I have three R.E. sliders - one male and two female, all fully grown. This year I have had two cluthes of eggs from each female. The problem is, the eggs seem to collapse in on themselves shortly after being laid. I have tried incubating in vermiculite at the recommended temperature, and I have even tried leaving the eggs in the soil they were laid (in a large plastic tub)and removing the tub and incubating the whole thing so as not to disturb them - all to no avail. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. The turtles are kept in a six foot fishtank autumn and spring where they have full spectrum u.v.b. and a heatlamp. The water is heated and heavily filtered. In the winter they have a short hibernation period of a couple of months and in the summer I put them in a purpose built pond I made that is subject to the sun all day. Here they have an island where they bask all day if it is sunny. I live in the U.K. midlands which is hardly renowned for it's searing temperatures but I would like to think I make up for it with the u.v. tube. Also, as my daughter pointed out, those turtles eat better than us. I give the freshwater trout so as to avoid thiamin problems, occasional prawns and meat and various pellets. I notice that they don't go a bundle on fresh greens. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated and I would be particularly keen to hear off anybody else who has had the collapsing egg problem and has overcome it. Thanks in advance.

There could be several things going on. First -- do you dispose of the eggs after they collapse? If not how long do you attempt to incubate them before giving up. I have a map turtle what lays 100% fertile eggs. ALL of them are collasped in when she lays them. I put them in the vermiculite and incubate them and within a week to 14 days they plump up.

How old are you females? The other possibility is that they simply are not laying fertile eggs at this point in time.

Steve

Thanks for the reply.
The eggs were six and eight weeks old when I disposed of them and showed no signe of filling out, in fact they had collapsed even more. I've seen the male actually mating and the females are both fully grown and were when I aquired them two years ago. Perhaps your'e right, maybe they just arn't fertile to begin with. I could always try another male next year and see how this progresses.
Regards,
Garry.

Definitely duds if they are not plumping within a week or two. This guy may not be connecting. I think that is your problem.
I would say with a relative amount of confidence that the eggs are infertile.

Steve

Thanks again for the comments. Next spring I'll try another male. Also, I'll increase the calcium and vitamin intake all round, even though I was giving them plenty.
Regards,
Garry.