Reptile & Amphibian Forums

jumping on the forum as apposed to doing more thorough research......

My sulcata laid 20 eggs two weeks ago, (I did note copulatory behavior earlier in the year with our male). This was her first clutch. As expected she spent several days digging around and being unsettled. The nest hole with eggs was the only one that she actually backfilled. OK here is my "problem?", she continues to dig shallow holes and backing in as if she might lay another clutch...

Is this normal behavior? I speculated that she may still be affected by the hormones responsible for initiating eggs laying behavior...... She is a smallish, 9 year old tortoise and as noted this is here first clutch.....

Thanks for any assistance

ginter

I tossed in a photo of my buddy haming it up with a wild redfoot in Brazil as this was the only tortoise image I had handy..... good for a laugh!

It is not uncommon for sulcata's to multiple clutch. 3-5 clutches per season is not unheard of.Usually subsequent clutches will be deposited any where from 4-6 weeks after the prior. General health of the female is critical to multiple clutching. Other behaviors that cannot be ignored are false nesting, and renesting. Some will deposit a single clutch in multiple nests.

thanks for the info.....

i will keep an eye on her