Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Yesterday and today I found my turtles mating. I have a couple of questions regarding this because I have never had a male until just before winter last year, he was given to me by a neighbor. After copulation how long before she lays eggs and should I leave them outside to hatch naturally or bring them inside to incubate? I live in southern CA and I'm not sure if the weather here is good for natural incubation. Any advise, suggestions, and information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Paul
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0.0.4 Destert Tortoise
1.0 Sulcata
1.1 Three Toed Box Turtles
3.3 Western Hognose
1.0 Albino Western Hognose
1.0 Corn Snake
0.1 Anery Corn
1.0 Green Tree Frog
0.0.1 Alligator Lizard (Rescued from the cats)
1.1 Boxers
1.3 Cats

Box turtles can hold the eggs for a few years until conditions are right for her to lay them.

I live in Central TX and let my boxies lay their eggs in their outside pens. I do not incubate them, I just let nature take its course. I know So. CA can be just as hot, but not sure about your humidity levels.

Are 3 toes native to your area? If so, then you should be able to do natural incubation.

Female box turtles can hold sperm for years, but they cannot hold eggs. Maybe that's what you were thinking? If the eggs aren't laid, binding will occur.

Unless you've done a lot of soil amending and irrigation, your Socal conditions will most likely dry the eggs out. Three-toes are native to relatively humid areas, even in East Texas. You can take the chance, though, as female box turtles are absolutely miraculous about finding the correct microhabitats for their eggs.

Leaving nests alone vs. maintaining controlled incubation conditions is really a personal choice. I personally choose control. I want my turtles to produce as many young as they possibly can. It is a lot of work, but I enjoy it.

Have you incubated any herp eggs before?

You are correct...I meant holding the sperm, not eggs. It was late when I typed it!

Tim

No, I have never incubated eggs before. I planned on breeding some of my snakes in the future so I have read information on incubation. In my back yard some parts of the soil are really dry and other sections stay pretty moist.

I would prefer to incubate that way I can monitor the eggs and increase the probability of them hatching successfully.

What should I be looking for when she is ready to lay?

My 3toe was a tank turtle and would usually lay in the water bowl, not exactly great for the eggs. It helped me figure out I had the tank too dry. I think the humidity needs are the hardest thing about keeping them outside.