Egg bound Ornate box turtle?

[Kirkie]

Morning all,

After a little bit of advice. My Ornate male matrd with one of the females early January. On 2nd Feb I noticed her making the rhythmic digging motions with her back legs this then stopped until last week. The last five evenings she has started digging but each morning I'm finding her asleep in the hole! Shes digging in the same spot so I dont think its a site selection problem. The substrate is a foot of compost with small amounts of sand (cactus compost). This worked fine for my other female last year.*

I've been watching this turtle once she gets in that "hypnotic" state and shes turning over and patting down the same spot without going any deeper. Shes vertical in the hole, digging with back legs.

She was 483g after hibernation, soon back up to her normal 495g but she is now weighing 520g. I'm hopeful this means she has new eggs rather than old, retained ones.

I'm giving her warm baths and have a ceramic heater set up over her pool. I'm providing gentle heat overnight to the laying spot via another ceramic heater.*

She is still eating and I've been giving her reptiboost baths as well. She has regular calcium supplimentation, UV lights etc.

I going to set up a second nest site today see if the alternative makes a difference.

Question is, I'm concerned she's egg bound. As above, she's chosen her spot but isnt seeing it through. How long should I give it before a vet visit?*

[Box girl]

Hi Kirkie,
It is my belief that as box eggs are soft shell they do not get egg bound. However we did have one elderly box (three Toed) that could not manage to pass its eggs, I found out by using a small greased finger in the cloaca.

You may wish to try thsi. You are doing everything else that you possibly can. As you must know box torts lay when its low pressure husband has a watch that tells him! Try watching the weather forecast or like now when its got milder.
It is just about time for eggs to be laid at 6 weeks so they should not as you say be old eggs by now.
That's as much as I can think of right now. Will post more if I think of anything else.
Just thought we use damp spahgnum moss as a laying substrate maybe this would help?
Good Luck.

Originally Posted by Kirkie

Morning all,

After a little bit of advice. My Ornate male matrd with one of the females early January. On 2nd Feb I noticed her making the rhythmic digging motions with her back legs this then stopped until last week. The last five evenings she has started digging but each morning I'm finding her asleep in the hole! Shes digging in the same spot so I dont think its a site selection problem. The substrate is a foot of compost with small amounts of sand (cactus compost). This worked fine for my other female last year.*

I've been watching this turtle once she gets in that "hypnotic" state and shes turning over and patting down the same spot without going any deeper. Shes vertical in the hole, digging with back legs.

She was 483g after hibernation, soon back up to her normal 495g but she is now weighing 520g. I'm hopeful this means she has new eggs rather than old, retained ones.

I'm giving her warm baths and have a ceramic heater set up over her pool. I'm providing gentle heat overnight to the laying spot via another ceramic heater.*

She is still eating and I've been giving her reptiboost baths as well. She has regular calcium supplimentation, UV lights etc.

I going to set up a second nest site today see if the alternative makes a difference.

Question is, I'm concerned she's egg bound. As above, she's chosen her spot but isnt seeing it through. How long should I give it before a vet visit?*

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by Kirkie

Morning all,

After a little bit of advice. My Ornate male matrd with one of the females early January. On 2nd Feb I noticed her making the rhythmic digging motions with her back legs this then stopped until last week. The last five evenings she has started digging but each morning I'm finding her asleep in the hole! Shes digging in the same spot so I dont think its a site selection problem. The substrate is a foot of compost with small amounts of sand (cactus compost). This worked fine for my other female last year.*

I've been watching this turtle once she gets in that "hypnotic" state and shes turning over and patting down the same spot without going any deeper. Shes vertical in the hole, digging with back legs.

She was 483g after hibernation, soon back up to her normal 495g but she is now weighing 520g. I'm hopeful this means she has new eggs rather than old, retained ones.

I'm giving her warm baths and have a ceramic heater set up over her pool. I'm providing gentle heat overnight to the laying spot via another ceramic heater.*

She is still eating and I've been giving her reptiboost baths as well. She has regular calcium supplimentation, UV lights etc.

I going to set up a second nest site today see if the alternative makes a difference.

Question is, I'm concerned she's egg bound. As above, she's chosen her spot but isnt seeing it through. How long should I give it before a vet visit?*

Is the substrate, very moist aswell?

[Kirkie]

Yep, I've been watering it in the morning. If I push my hand in it the hole holds it's shape.

[Box girl]

I'd give her time it's getting colder for a few days when the weather warms up and low pressure again hopefully she will oblige soon.

Originally Posted by Kirkie

Yep, I've been watering it in the morning. If I push my hand in it the hole holds it's shape.

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by Box girl

I'd give her time it's getting colder for a few days when the weather warms up and low pressure again hopefully she will oblige soon.

I agree!

[Kirkie]

She's at it again. Shes been stomping around all evening, checked out the additional nesting spot but she's digging in the original spot again.

She's persistent, I'll give her that.

[ziggy's owner]

Good luck with her when she lays

[Bindi]

Any luck last night Dave?

[Box girl]

We have a few doing exactly the same thing!

Originally Posted by Kirkie

She's at it again. Shes been stomping around all evening, checked out the additional nesting spot but she's digging in the original spot again.

She's persistent, I'll give her that.