Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What if my boxie did lay eggs and I choose to leave them just where she laid them? I really am not sure that I could take care of the eggs properly if I dug them up (if there are any). So if I leave the nest alone how do you tend it. By that I mean, other than keep a screen cage around the entire spot, what else needs to be done. You say if you dig up the eggs you have to keep them from drying out. If they are left in the nest itself, won't they dry out? Granted they are in a bed that I usually water, but I am wondering if it is ok to keep watering the way I normally do, or should I somehow block the water from getting to the nest except for a small amount of water. Gosh......I am really up a tree on this.

Although I have had hatchlings in the pen, I never knew they were laid there and since that time the grass has really spread in the pen so the only soil areas are the hides themselves and small areas in spots of the pen. Perhaps I should have left her in the pen instead of letting her out in the yard. Then I would have never known what she did or didn't do! What I really need to do is separate the sexes. I would love to put one or the other out in the yard loose but I have Mr. T who has laid claim to the yard and goes into a tizzy whenever he sees the other boxies wandering around. The only reason he didn't bother my female the other day is because it has been really hot and he has made himself a home underneath one of our sheds and I only see him occassionally lately when he comes out to go get a good soaking and a drink of water and a bite of food if he is lucky enough for me to see him out and about.

Oh well.......sorry this is another long one. Any more ideas? .....9boxies

Look at my other message, too
It is OK to water the garden as you have always done, except do not flood the area with lots of water. Wild turtle nests get rained on, so they are able to withstand some water in the nest cavity-but most time very little gets in. A well made egg chamber has the sides well pressed by the female turtle's heels, and a thin, but harden layer is made. It will stop water, unless there is a flood and the ground becomes saturated.

Since you have had other hatchings, your locale must be somewhat conducive to the eggs. The female picked this spot, so you can feel confident that you gave her the option to making her nest where she wanted.

Now your job is to expand on the pen where the female is held so she won't have the stress of pacing and laying eggs outside the safety of her pen. As you noted, make a big area for nests in the pens, this could be an area of sandy loam with planting of bunching grasses instead of sod.
Tess