Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I palpated my new girl(Theia) this morning, I felt two good sized *masses*, the other day I could only feel one, does this mean the eggs are still calcifying inside her? how long does it normally take for the whole clutch to form?
she doesn't seem stressed to me, she's already eating..
she hasn't been digging,
one more question, she's a big girl for being a 3 toe, her plastron is 5 1/2" because of her size will she give me a large clutch?
Thanks

unfortunately there's really no concrete answers for you. The eggs shift some as they are developing and gaining in size, so sometimes they feel different over time. a large gal may well lay more eggs, but I have had large gals lay small clutches and one lay a small clutch but of very large eggs (that was odd).

Okay Thanks Nathan, I'll keep an eye out for odd behaviour then, she was soaking alot yesterday so hopefully she'll lay soon
Thanks

My large female layed 7 eggs june 23rd. (last year she layed 9) and just tonight she layed another 6. I was surprised since I had her for 3 years and this is the first time that I know of that she double clutched. Last year 6 eggs hatched. My other female layed 7 eggs on the 26th. I will keep an eye out for her to double clutch. All 6 of hers from last year hatched.
Just a few weeks ago I was questioning that they layed later this year than in past years.
Phil

I'm glad you brought this up, because one of my eastern females, who gave us 4 eggs on June 17, is now behaving as though she's ready to lay again: she's gained weight and is back to her pre-laying weight, and is marching around the enclosure incessantly, just like she did before the first time. I palpated after the last clutch to try to get an idea of what the differences were for comparison, and it sure feels now like she may have more to come.
Is this very unusual? So soon after the first clutch?
I did several searches through the archives, and checked references and so I understand that repeat laying is not very unusual, but I never found reference to interval between clutches. I wondered if any of you had had similar experiences.
I'll certainly be keeping an eye on her....

I went out today to dig up the eggs and found she layed 8 not 6, thats 15 total for her this year, in 14 days!. I left 4 in the ground and am incubating 4 in the house. I did the same last year , split the clutches 1/2in the house 1/2 left outside covered in wire mesh and had the same hatch rate between the two groups.
Phil

Wow! Millie is now covering her nest...I could see three in the nest, but there may be more,since its dark out and I couldn't find my maglite. I got my husband out there in time to watch her lay the last one, so he's thrilled.
Good luck with yours!
Stephanie

Perhaps the double clutching is from the weather ... * cant remember who said this* but dont female turtles hold sperm ?

could it be possible that because the weather wasnt appropriate .. they held off laying and had two lots of their "eggs" fertilized ?