Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,

My 7 year old female leopard laid her first clutch in august and then her second clutch a week ago. Since then on two occasions she has defecated a liquid the consistency of eggs whites - a clear thick liquid kind of stuff. Frankly, it looks like an egg white, but not any yoke type stuff. All I can imagine is that an egg cracked inside her and she let the stuff out? is this what is happening? is this just part of the female deal? Do I need to be concerned? Does this mean she either needs to lay more eggs or that she did not lay all the ones she had? There is no egg shell coming out.

Advice?

If the egg broke itside it would be on deaths door in a day. It is very unlike unless the mail was breeding her and broke one. This to is unlikely. I'd get a stool sample looked at and go from there. Let us know.Good luck. VM

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate any and all info from experienced breeders.

and great photo by the way - so it looks like she just dug a nest in some leaves?

Ben

This species, Manouria (Asian Mt.Tort.) builds an above ground nest, then diggs a hole in the top of it. Its hard to tell from the camera angle,and she if not doing it by the book eather. It was her first time. Heres a shot from another female. Vic

Your photo is remarkable - it is very clear from the photo that she is on top of a mound. It must be facinating to watch.

Thanks, Ben

Yes it is, they also protect the nest from intruders. Mt.Tortoise nesting is more like the America Alligator than other tortoises. It's a long process of "backsweeping". They move backwards sweeping ground matter to the nest mound where she then diggs a hole in it to deposit the eggs. Then like the Alligator stands guard.(even though I take the eggs out). I've tryed putting some pipping eggs in the nest to see it they return to protect them, but they dont. Some are hatching NOW ! VM