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I take my gravid box turtle outside to bask for a couple hours daily, when she first got here all she wanted to do was bask, but now when I take her out she tries to take off, from what I've read gravid girls will move around lot when they're getting ready to lay?
she's stopped soaking, she still eats like it's her last meal, but no test holes,
what're some of the signs I should look out for?
Thanks

>>I take my gravid box turtle outside to bask for a couple hours daily, when she first got here all she wanted to do was bask, but now when I take her out she tries to take off, from what I've read gravid girls will move around lot when they're getting ready to lay?
>>she's stopped soaking, she still eats like it's her last meal, but no test holes,
>>what're some of the signs I should look out for?

Water down areas in the yard to make the ground soft and friable. Give her time in the later afternoon and early evening to make test nest. If you take her back in too early she won;t be able to dig her egg chamber.
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Tess
Kingsnake.com Forum Host

it's raining right now so the ground should be soft when I take her outside, how long does egg laying process usually take?
Thanks!

depending on how hard the ground is, and her personal preference, it could take till morning. This is one reason outdoor pens are a boon, since she can take all the time she needs.

My easterns that have laid eggs have both started digging at about 7 or 7:30pm, laid and positioned eggs in the nest between 9 and 10pm (or so), and were in the later stages of covering the nests at midnight, at which point I went to bed, so I don't know how much longer they were at it.
I have no idea if thats typical or not, since I have come across a wild turtle finishing up at 8:30am, and another who was finishing up by 9pm, but in all cases they were working under some darkness(at least part of the time).
The actual egg laying didn't take very long at all (20 mins or so for 4 eggs), and there are lots of variables.
I had had a sprinkler on in the enclosure yesterday morning for about two hours, to water the plant material, which ended up being a great help to Millie who laid last night (2nd clutch).
If you can put her outside in some sort of enclosed space and let her do her thing without disturbances or interruptions, that would probably be best.