Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 2.3 adult north eastern box turtles in a large pen outside. They are just about ready to go in to hibernation for this year, but I have a few questions so I’m ready for next.

I used to have them in a smaller pen that was pretty much half the size of their current pen (12’x5’). They bred in the smaller pen after I had them for about 3 years. Only one of the males I have actually seen mating and it is always with the same female, so don’t know what’s going on there. After I put them in their new pen, 2 years ago, I haven’t seen any nesting let alone eggs. Usually I would notice some test holes a few days before she laid and I would just check the pen every night to catch her when she was laying.

The new pen is pretty much the same from the old one just bigger. The entire back of the pen is covered with raspberry shrubs and near the front there are a few patches of strawberries. They have a large pit filled with hay, were they hibernate, and of course a nice size water pan.

Any suggestions on what I can do to maybe increase breeding?

Are you feeding them enough? My brothers never have offspring, but he does not have them on a good diet.

I thought about that. Usually I feed them twice a week, plus they get scraps from the table if their are any (plain un eatten fruit and vegitables). They are def getting enough some are prob a little over weight becasue they can not fit thier heads and back legs both in their shell at the same time.

The only thing I can think of is I need to feed them very heavily when they first emerge from hibernation.

Maybe they are still getting use to there surroundings. Maybe they cannot find each other. I know misting them with the hose will start something, whenever I spray my herd down or after a rain storm every one starts to mate. If I were you I would get a couple more.

I currently keep a 7.7.20 Three Toeds. I have had close to twenty babies hatch this summer. If spraying them does not stimulate more breeding try adding more soft dirt in certain areas, this will make the female want to lay her eggs there.

Rob I know with eastern boxes that females like to lay there eggs in harder soil. I know with my female the harder the soil the better. Also I think he has an ample amount of boxies already I don't think adding any will improve the situation. I wouldn't want to overcrowd the enclosure.

Mine go for hard soil, too.
Your female probably deposited eggs somewhere without you witnessing it.

Add some sand to half your enclosure and leave the other half alone. I've noticed "cake-dry" sandy soil works best. Very rarely do my females lay in soft, fluffy soil. Never really measured it but about 5 lbs of sand mixed in 1 square yard is a start. Can't tell you exactly - it's just a guess-timate. Could be a little more or a little less. Good luck next year!