Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I think my female red-eared slider is going to lay eggs, because she is digging in the gravel underwater with her back legs (she a always digs with her front legs) and she's real fat. She's 5 inches long and with her in her tank are are 2 adult male red-eared sliders, 1 adult female map, and 1 small female red-eard slider. Thanks For Any Help Scott

Hi Scott -

Your female is not likely to be laying eggs anytime soon. At five inches she is simply too small to breed. When is 8 inches or larger you can may expect this to happen and she will be digging on land with her back legs not under water. Sometimes turtles appear to be digging under water with their backlegs when actually they are trying to defecate and kick the feces away from their tails. Perhaps you saw your female just going through the motions of that.

Steve