Reptile & Amphibian Forums

... So I was VERY excited but now I have a few questions I was hoping someone could answer:

1. Is it too late in the season for her to lay eggs? If we have an Indian summer, is it possible for her to lay eggs into October and November?

2. What is the gestation period for an EBT? And how long does it take the eggs to hatch from the time they are laid?

3. Since it was determined on this forum that my EBT female is quite old, is it possible that she is TOO old to breed?

4. How soon after she comes out of hibernation should I be looking for eggs in her enclosure? And also, do they only have one clutch per year?

Thankyou in advance for any info you can provide!
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My Kids:
Jack Russel Terrier: Skipper
Miniature Pinscher: Bambi
3 Eastern Box Turtles: Daisy, Dozer, and Magnum (yearling)
1 Red Eared Slider: Rosie
1 Twist Neck Turtle: Lilypad
2 rats: Clementine and Elsie

1. Is it too late in the season for her to lay eggs? If we have an Indian summer, is it possible for her to lay eggs into October and November?

She will almost assuredly not lay eggs at all this fall....she'll lay them next summer. As an example, most of the turtle mating activity here happens in spring and fall, but the girls only lay eggs in the late spring/early summer, with June being the busiest month.

2. What is the gestation period for an EBT? And how long does it take the eggs to hatch from the time they are laid?

Turtles don't have a gestation period: different reproductive system. Incubation temperature tends to be a governing factor determining duration therof...an average is about 60 days though.

3. Since it was determined on this forum that my EBT female is quite old, is it possible that she is TOO old to breed?

Nope! Box turtles do not become "reproductively senile".

4. How soon after she comes out of hibernation should I be looking for eggs in her enclosure? And also, do they only have one clutch per year?

You probably won't be able to just find eggs in her enclosure: box turtles dig nests and will do an incredible job of camouflaging it when they're finished laying the eggs. You'll have to be on the lookout for nesting activity instead, and note where she digs and lays. As for quantity of clutches, it seems to depend on the individual turtle: I have females here that lay two clutches each year like clockwork, others that only lay once. Farther south, third clutches are possible, due to the longer spring/summers.

Thankyou so much for all the info!
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My Kids:
Jack Russel Terrier: Skipper
Miniature Pinscher: Bambi
3 Eastern Box Turtles: Daisy, Dozer, and Magnum (yearling)
1 Red Eared Slider: Rosie
1 Twist Neck Turtle: Lilypad
2 rats: Clementine and Elsie