Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ticman12 asked in July '08:

Once a male and a female breed, is there any sign that the female has been successfully bred, ie. that she is gravid? How long after successful breeding does the female start getting restless and ready to lay the eggs?

My VIRGIN [ raised from hatchlings.. note the dates in all of the pics ] females bred for the first time in early May.. the first eggs were layed in late July.

I found this nest [ FIRST one EVER ].. a couple days after it was laid.. I didn't really know what to look for.

And this is the first pic I could find of an egg-laying female..[ without digging out old CD's ]

So I figure it takes about 80-85 days for the eggs to develop in a "mature" female.

The females were 10"-11" and the males were 10"-10.5".

With so many variables to go wrong [ ALL of this was new to me then also ].. including 'size/age' of males and female.. this didn't happen until late Feb.

Take a guess if I still have that hatchling?

Hope this helps.

Terry
Turtletary.com

OK...I'll bite. Do you still have the hatchling, Terry?

Check out MayDay's answer below under Breeding Question. He does a great job of addressing this question. Later Richard

Ps: My own experience is 6-8 weeks after breeding eggs are laid. Once the initial breeding takes place my females lay evry 40-60 days, so sperm retained by the female explains the quick turn around on egg laying. Good luck with your Redfoots---Richard

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Richard -amazoa-

"Changes in behavior occur when the pain of staying the same outweighs the pain of change."

Thanks Richard.. and I was addressing the "how long 'til ready to lay?" part of ticman12's question. That way 'he' could maybe relate a time-frame for the female activities that mayday explained in his response on the thread that I'm referring to here.

I think ticman12 was also curious about the "egg development/gestation" because this was the first 'activity' from the male especially(?).

Richard is that 6-8 weeks you mentioned based on "virgin" females.. or the term for 'first-breeding' of the season [ after they have been separated for a few months ]? Because it sounds like ticman12 has a 'virgin' female for sure. Either way that 6-8 weeks sounds like a short term.. or could it be "retained sperm" from 'last season'? I'm not trying to open a can of questions or confusions. Thought I better ask.

Terry

The 6-8 week period would not be a virgin breeding. Rather it I based on observed breeding (in early June each season) with my oldest pair of Redfoots laying thir first clutch consistently in early August each season. The latest I have gotten eggs has been in Late April in Jacksonville , Fl. I have not separated the pairs but paying close attention to my group on a daily basis I have not wirnessed breeding during the months of April of May. I'm hoping others with observations will share their findings here as well. What have you have determined based on your groups breeding timetables? Thanks Richard

PS: Do your females roam the enclosure three days or so before laying with their nose to the ground as if searching for the optimum spot to lay. I always see this behavior.
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Richard -amazoa-

"Changes in behavior occur when the pain of staying the same outweighs the pain of change."

The summer of '06 was a "perfect" summer for my redfoots. Hot and humid!!! They had all been together the previous winter [ inside from late Oct. due to the weather here in TN. ] and had been able to breed at will. Although not much breeding had occured from March - early May. As I recall breeding started with the spring rains [ usually mid-May ] and was consistent all summer. I am sure that breeding is enhanced by rain.

In late July the females would cruise around their 24 x 30 pen looking for the best spot.. sometimes starting a nest and then aborting it for no apparent reason after a half hour of digging. This occured on the same 35-45 day cycle that Richard mentioned and continued until mid-March for most of them even though inside. Ambient temps in the 80's and I often run a WARM AIR humidifier.

As mentioned before my group consists of basically 10 year old females and a couple of [ now ] 11 inch males.. so the hatch rate is expected to improve from here on.

The summer of '07 was a drought.. [ we had a BAN on water usage ].. virtually no breeding.. the females couldn't dig outside. They did lay on a hap-hazard schedule inside.. about 75% of the normal number of eggs. And about 20% of the NORMAL hatch rate.. the eggs were not fertile.

The summer of '08 was still dry but not a drought. The first few clutches of eggs have hatched a few with a few Nov., Dec. and Jan. clutches incubating now.. we'll see! [ not much better really ] And I have now provided a SPRINKLER system to keep their outside habitat wet this spring and summer. Hopefully to get them back on track.

Before '07.. breeding and nesting was consistent and each year the hatch rate improved. Because of no rain in '07 [ during their normal breeding season ] they did not breed. They got out of rhythm for 2 years.

I'm of the opinion and believe that as long as we provide their "SEASONAL" needs they will produce like clock-work just like Richard mentioned. We can influence their season.. we'll find out in '09.. here!

Terry

Thanks for posting and those redfoots love the humidity and I agree it is essential. Here is a few shots of our irrigation system and the results - stimulates breeding.

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Richard -amazoa-

"Changes in behavior occur when the pain of staying the same outweighs the pain of change."

That last photo is funny Richard. Mine do that too.