Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I adopted two adult RES, a male and a female. The guy said that thay would mate and lay eggs, but they would fall in the water and they would eat them (no sand in tank). Is this safe? I don't really want more turtles anyway.

Thanks,
Andrew

Some turtles will lay eggs in the water out of desperation, other turtles will retain the eggs, become eggbound and die. It is better to have a laying box for your turtle so she can lay them in sand. You can just throw away the eggs, they will only hatch if you incubate them.
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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
2 male RES, born 1999
1 ribbon snake, age unknown
3 FBT, ages unknown
1 female bearded dragon, born 5/2002
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04

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sig file edited 1/29/05 [phw]

How big should it be? How deep?

Thanks,
Andrew

Try to make it their basking area. You can use a small plastic tub (something at least 4 inches deep deeper is better). Mix equal amounts of sand peatmoss and clean topsoil then put a layer of sand over the top of that. You set this tub into your tank as the basking area for them. Be sure to put a ramp so the turtles can haul themselve out onto this area. The reason you put a layer of sand on top is so that if your female does lay eggs she you can easily locate the nest because she will mix up the sand into the soil mix where she lays. Then dig up the eggs, give them a rinse and drop them right back into the water for the turtles to snack on. It is perfectly good food for them if you do not want to incubate eggs (which is not recommended given that there are so many sliders out there). OR just toss em if you are squimish about such things.