Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We have one egg. My box turtle was found hurt on the 4th of July. We have her seemingly healthy, she is eating good. she layed one egg about 6 weeks ago in her swimming box, it had been there several hours befor i figured out what it was, is had dies, now 10 days ago she layed 1 more egg in the water, we found in withing half an hour, and were very careful not to turn it. we, have it incubated, and keeping moist , not wetting actual egg. there is the history, but the egg has a dent or impression in it. i have read and read every thing i can find on the internet on caring my mmy box turtle, and her egg now, but i cant fint information telling me if this means the egg is bad. can you tell me. and has any one had an egg hatch with a dent in it? Second question, i have not heard of a turtle laying one egg. is this something you have experianced before. Three, does it mean something i am missing for her to lay her one egg in the water?
Thank you
Candy

Frequently, females will lay eggs in water or on top of the ground (vs. digging a nest) if they cannot find an appropriate nesting place. They may also do this with eggs that aren't fertile.
You didn't describe the enclosure, so I'll ask a few questions:
Does your turtle have an area in her enclosure where she can dig a nest? With compacted soil at least 8" deep? Or, is she housed with other turtles in a confined space?
Females tend to seek an isolated site (away from other turtles) to lay their eggs, where there is good firm soil in which to dig(cave-ins during digging can make her abandon the effort).
Some folks on this forum will put their females in a separate enclosure for this purpose, others have large enough outdoor setups and don't need to.
From what I have understood, it is not uncommon for females to jettison eggs in this manner when they cannot find a nesting site.
As for collapsing eggs, don't give up on them. Two of our hatchlings came from partially collapsed eggs. Make sure you are maintaining adequate humidity levels, as that is one of the causes of collapse.
This is our first year with eggs and babies, so hopefully others can give more insight.
Hope that helps
Stephanie

there were two turtles, we have since taken the second away into another one. but she is in a 7'x3' ground area, with i am not sure how to explain, as this is something we have built, but in the center there is 2x3 foot on "land" area with thin carpet area, then level with that on one end there is a 2.5x3 foot rubbermaid type box dropped so it is level with the land for swimming, it is about 18 inches deep, but have plenty resting and easy exiting items available. (we have a rubbermade stepped spice shelf for exiting and entering, and she has figured it out quite well. and then on the other end exact same set-up with dirt. kind? i do not know, my husband went to wal-mart and brought a bag, and this was while trying to save her, so i didnt pay enough attention.

Sounds like you're on the right track, although next spring would be a good time to start housing her outside fulltime.
As for the dirt/soil: if it is loose enough to be stirred up with your fingers, its too loose for her to successfully dig a nest.They need really compacted soil, so if you can dig some up out of your yard and mix it with the stuff in her pen and then tamp it down HARD, making sure its 8" or more deep, she may find it easier to dig a proper nest.
I realize that it may sound contradictory, but all she wants to do is form a hollow that won't keep caving in while she's digging, and compacted soil stays put until you move it. Soft, loose, fluffy soil is no help at all in this particular situation.
Great job rescuing her and nursing her back to health.
Regards
Stephanie

Ok, i will get some dirt from my yard and try that. Thank you so much for your input.
Has any one else had a dented egg survive? and i forgot, what is the normal time for an egg to hatch that you have experianced? I have seen some sights that say 45 days, whichs seems short kinda, and some that say 120 days, and many that pick some where in between. is there a pretty average from-to time span?
Thank you candy

I have had dented eggs hatch successfully, with two little guys scampering around as I write this.
Incubation times can vary with temperatures: good temperature range is between about 75 and 85 degrees fahrenheit (hotter is NOT better) and incubation periods (at those temperatures) range from approximately 60 to 90 days. This period would vary more greatly in nature due to various fluctuations in temperature, rainfall, etc.
Mine were all incubated at temps between 80-85 and hatched between 60 & 70 days after laying, if that gives you a better idea of what to expect.
You might also want to browse through the archives of this forum to read other postings for more tid-bits of information on the subject.
Good luck!
Stephanie

you should figure out what kinda soil it is, some potting soils have fertilizers in em that could end up killing the turtle..

I had felt that since it was already fall, and she is just now seeming full strength and all in all healthy, that i should wait till spring to put her out side. i have never done this and felt i was by no means confindent enough that i could keep he healthy throgh a winter yet, and she went a couple of months eating but not with enough agression, mid september to now she has been eating well, all outside damage seems to heal, she thinks seeing me means eating, so i am even getting her to get some fruits now. that took some doing, but now if i set it in there she will at least take a bite. Not sure if this is important, but she had been what looks like ran over and hurt, then became a dog toy. we found her on the side of the road, with a dog kinda poping her up out of his mouth, dog was having a wonderful time, just luck that we went by as she landed and i could see it looked like a turtle, so we turned around. my husband thought was had to be dead, but she is a survior. so i am new and worried about hurting her. so all advice is welcomed.