Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im very interested in breeding my boxies this year. But I think I did it wrong last year when I did not separate them. I really would like some tips on breeding from someone who has experience. Thanks alot

What do you mean by separating them? My pen has over 50 turtles in it now, including babies, juveniles, and adults. I never separate any of them or separate any of the adults which is about half male and half female.

I just keep them happy by making the most natural habitat and keeping them properly nourished and mine have laid 38 eggs this year so far. Last year I had 25 successful hatchlings and every one of them is alive and healthy.

So after hibernation don't do any thing but keep them happy? Ok I will try it.

Hibernation and a good diet are the keys.

Yup, leave them outside, make sure they're fed and let them react naturally to the seasons and you'll likely have babies. Several of mine are on their second clutch already this year and one is about to lay her third.

Then once you have eggs laid, I incubate them by buring them in some top soild at the same depth I found them and in the same position I found them, put a heat lamp about 2-3 feet above the dirt, pour some water on the eggs every couple of days and you should get eggs. Now I live in the south and we have plenty of heat and humidity, and my garage feels just like it does outside. So I do not monitor temperature nor humidity. These people who say you need to keep it at a steady eighty point something degrees and carefully monitor the humidity take it a little overboard. The temperature and humidity doesnt stay constant in the wild.

My male & female boxies "mated" last year but no eggs were produced. This year, I think they figured it out, and she started digging nests but wasn't laying anything. I separated them and about 2 weeks later she laid 3 eggs. If you suspect she has eggs but hasn't laid any, take the male out so she feels more comfortable. That's what I did and now I am hoping the eggs hatch! Good luck!