Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, it's spring again and soon the forums will be full of people posting pictures of their new baby turtles. I have a question though. Every year, my turtles mate like theres no tomorrow. It starts a week after they wake up from hibernation and they don't stop until mid-summer. But after years of them mating, I've never had eggs. I have good spots for egg-laying and give my female cuttlebones to eat for extra calcium, so I don't think those are factors. I'd like to get more females for a better chance of egg laying, but I dont think that will be happening any time soon. Any ideas on why I'm not getting eggs? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many variables can effect egg production; and egg hatching.
I hear ya on using the cuttlebone; but try dusting their food with 2.0 calcium. Less phosphorus binding will occur which may be a factor with their total diet.. Your probably are aware the Romaine lettuce is loaded with calcium...Wouldn't hurt to increase it in their diet. Feeding your boxies any type of gourd has an antibiotic effect which discourages parasites naturally...and they seems to love squash, pumpkins etc.
Parasites can weaken their immune system and account for low to no egg output.
We're assuming the males or male are not sterile !!
The soil they are laying in can be holding too much water if it's clay based. They would look for a loamy, sandy type if they were in the wild. I'm not sure of your soil makeup in your turtle pen. Too damp with a heavy clay soil would cause the eggs to rot. Also there may be predation of your turtle eggs while in the ground by some types of nematodes. It would also be a good idea to purchase one of those cheap remote thermometers. I bought several for $7.00 from Wal Mart. Set the remote sensor about 9 inches below the soil in a corner of the pen when you think eggs may have been laid or a place that looks good to you! Check the daytime highs against the nightime lows. If they vary too much you'll need to add an insulation barrier.
I'm not trying to shoot arrows; just pointing out some things that may be your problem. Then there can be boxies that eat their own eggs. But that's volume two.. Good luck.
Ric

Pumpkin, huh? I'll have to try that. I'm pretty sure I have good egg laying soil. I've got a variety of different types in their cage that my female can chose from. I'll have to try that thing with the thermometers. I am 1000% sure they are male and female. This will be my 6th year with my turtles. I'm guessing they were around 5 or 6 when I got them. Also, I'm almost sure they really are mating. After anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour of biting at her and doing all his mating rituals, my male mounts the female. After about 5 minutes he'll start to lean back a little bit. Once he leaned so far he was actually lying on his back while mating. Occassionally, my female will try to stick her head out or start to run away after my male has mounted her. He will bite at her head until she goes back into her shell and stops protesting. That's mating, right? Also, I've heard that if you don't introduce the male to the female until a while after they've woken up from hibernation, it will increase the chances of mating. Could this also affect the egg laying? Sorry for boring you to death with this long a post. If you've read all the way through this then you are great.

I felt that the questions I'd asked were pertinent: I keep easterns, so I'm certainly no authority on 3-toeds, but from what I've read in various texts and on this forum, 3-toeds can be difficult to sex correctly, hence the question.
What is interesting to me is your statement that your female is not laying eggs at all: thats why I inquired about the age of the turtles, thinking perhaps they are not mature.
Are you able to observe her every evening, mid-May through mid July? Could she be laying eggs and you've not witnessed it?
Also, position itself may not be a definitive indicator: there may be no successful penetration.
I hadn't ever heard the theory about waiting to introduce males to females to increase chances of successful mating: in the case of our females (at least this year), one mated the same day she emerged from hibernation, and again the following day with the same male.
Our females also seem to be rather selective: the female mentioned previously spurns the advances of all males but one, and other females 'play the field' until they are approached by one that suits them, and its not necessarily the same male each year.
Go figure.
Stephanie

I have found that not introducing the male for breeding just after hibernation gives a better chance of breeding.

Males and females are stressed to the max after just emerging from hibernation. Their sex drive is lower than if they were conditioned and the males sperm count is lower, and in some cases non existant until a few weeks after hibernation.

Females have been found to develop more egg follicles with proper minerals and vitamins after hibernation by waiting and conditioning them. More egg follicles means higher egg counts.
Ric

How long have you had your turtles? Do you have an idea of how old they are?
Are you certain that your turtles are actually mating? Plenty of people have the mistaken impression that turtles constantly mounting eachother are actually mating, which may not be the case. The males we have will continuously mount the females, but this does not result in actual mating every time.
Another question may be whether or not your turtles are fully mature (male or female).
And, lastly, are you absolutely certain of their gender? Males will mount other males.
Stephanie

just adding, females will also mount other females and males, i have one the refuses to let the male mount her but I see her ontop of him all the time.
-----
My Site
1.2.1 Terrapene Carolina Triunguis
0.1 Nymphicus hollandicus
1.1 Melopsittacus undulatus
1.0 American Cocker Spaniels
1.0 American Short Hair? Cat
1.1 Rouen Ducks

One more thing that might help. I've heard that healthy females sometimes lay infertile eggs like chickens. I've never seen any of those either. I am usually able to watch my female during the evening, but at that time she's almost always in her favorite corner of the cage that she likes to sit by. It's kinda strange. She's been doin it for the past year. So she's most likely not layin any eggs that I'm unaware of. Thanks for all the replies so far. Maybe this year I'll have babies! My sister would love it if I did.

Here are 2 Three Toeds doing a turtle dance!



Here he is trying to get away.