Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Friday 13th my turtle had about 4-5 eggs and I found them floating around in the water. I do have a male RES in the tank with her but I am still unsure as to whether they were fertile or not. I also notice that the egg shells were very soft; almost too soft. They turtles ate the eggs but I have enough remains to know that the eggs are about 1inch long and 1/2 inch wide. That seems a little small is that normal side for RES eggs? My turtle is about 6-7 inches long. About how many of those eggs is she suppose to have at once. And when would be her next expected "litter" of eggs. I really need answers ASAP. Thanks for all the help.

Yep, those are them. I haven't had a male for 3 years and I still get eggs, they just aren't fertile. You'll get eggs every two weeks for while, usually April until June here in Arizona. They do make quite a mess when they eat them as you well know. They are soft to the touch and she'll lay anywhere from 2-3 to 11 or more. You'll know the next batch is coming when she stops eating for a couple of days. I usually take mine out of the pond and let them find a spot to bury them a la nature. It's pretty interesting to watch and it keeps them from injuring themselves trying to escape.

Thanx for all the info but I think I would like to incubate for boys.So what temperature do I use. What do I use to regulate temperature. What type of light to I usse while incubating. Is there a way to tell if the eggs are fertile or not maybe I hold it up to a light like other eggs? Can someone tell me how to make my own incubator? Someone told me before but I need the details once again. Please help with any info.

Eggs incubated at 75 degrees F will yeild mostly males, 85 degrees F females. Supposedly if they have "viens" running through the egg they are fertile, I didn't notice them on the one set of fertile eggs I had but I wasn't looking either. Make sure the top of the egg stays on top, mark it with a marker or something, if they turn over the baby will die. I would think that to maintain 75 you wouldn't need any light, just keep them in a sealed container so they don't dry out (that's how I lost my set). If you set the egg on some sand with a depression so it won't roll and keep the sand moist inside a Tupperware you should see a hatchling in 55-65 days. Good luck!

How do I know what part of the egg is the top and which is the bottom? Do I pick a side and keep it there or something and when you say keep the sand moist am I suppose to put water in the sand? How much? When I put the eggs in the sand do I put them in in a big bundle or separatly throughout the sand? How far down should the eggs put laid or put?Sorry for so many quesitons but I want to make sure I am doing this right.

Whatever side was the top when you found found them is the top. I don't know how soon after being laid it matters, but it's in all the books. Just keep the sand moist not wet. I don't think it matters much how close they are to each other, in nature they are stacked all on top of each other in a small hole. Do they look like they have veins running through them?

Just faintly yes. Thanks for all your info you have been a great help.

We'll looking to hear how they did in a month or so!