Reptile & Amphibian Forums

she has never been with a male. Is it possible for the eggs to be viable? I left them in the ground for now. But I'm thinking they have not been fertilized so they are not viable. She is almost 7 years old.

I wouldn't think so but you never really know.

>>she has never been with a male. Is it possible for the eggs to be viable? I left them in the ground for now. But I'm thinking they have not been fertilized so they are not viable. She is almost 7 years old.
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

If she has never been with a male then, no, the eggs are not fertile.

...and you KNOW this how????

It's pretty well documented in lizards. How can you be so sure?

Odds are... the eggs are not fertile. I wouldn't say no for sure.

>>If she has never been with a male then, no, the eggs are not fertile.
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

parthenogenesis can occur in snakes also!

boaguy, do you know for *sure* that she's never been with a male? is it possible that she had a "hot date" before you acquired her? female tortoises can store sperm for years, so if that's a possibility...

I'm sure she has never been with a male. We have raised her since she was a baby.

Great point Ed....
Although parthenogenesis is not uncommon in fish, amphibs and even is some reptiles, it's never been described in torts....who knows though, you could become famous...would definitely make the news.

a tortoise virgin birth... could be a miracle!