What do you think?

[Kirkie]

This is Pru, my original Ornate box turtle. She's indoors at the moment but tonight I found her doing this....(click on the pic to run the movie).




As you'll see, she's trashed the enclosure and dug down and through the plastic lining the base.

Do you think she's trying to dig a nest? This is directly under a spot bulb I put in there yesterday. The substrate is probably a bit shallow if she is, 3 inches max. Any thoughts/advice appreciated.

[egyptiandan64]

Yes she's trying to nest Dave Your going to need a lot more substrate for her to lay. I'll post some pictures of mine laying and of how deep the nest is. Lets just say they like to bury themselves to dig a nest. I measured the depth of one nest and from the soil level to the first egg was 5 inches and the whole nest was about 7 inches deep. It's very strange to witness and while your digging you think your never going to get to eggs

Danny

[Kirkie]

Thanks Dan. I could move her into a deep filled big tub for a while as long as the move doesn't put her off. Otherwise I'll build some kind of nest box in the enclosure and shift the lamp over it.

[EquestrianBabe]

Wow She's gorgeous. Nesting! Congrats, hope all goes well and all the eggs are fertile Do you know how many you're likely to get?

[Aliza]

Cute, I cant wait to see those eggs

[cath]

Aww she's concentrating soo hard keep us upto date xx

[egyptiandan64]

Okay pictures

Here's what a female looks like when digging a nest, yes there is a female under that loose dirt

Here's the nest the next morning (box turtles lay late afternoon/evening). Yes it did rain after she finished.

Here are the eggs



Here's how deep the nest was. To the first egg with the first picture and the bottom of the nest in the second picture.


Here are the eggs


She'll probably lay 3 or 4 eggs (the average clutch size)

Danny

[Kirkie]

Thanks for the pictures Dan, I was wondering why she was wearing a small miners helmet last night, it all makes sense now.

I'll think I've got a way to give her access to some deep, warm substrate without having to move her, will keep you posted.

Really clutching at straws here but any idea how long its thought female Ornates can store sperm from a mating for?

I've had Pru a year but I've no idea of her history, who or what she was kept with and as you may know, I have no male of my own.

[egyptiandan64]

I would think at least 4 years and maybe 5. By that time though fertility would be down to 1 egg in a clutch.

Danny

[Box girl]

We use pots of sphagnum moss well wetted with hot water and then drained so nice and damp to get it smelling good. We cover the top so they are not able to bury inside as most of the time they like to sleep there. Has worked well for years with us. Maybe this could be a simple solution for you.