Turtle Eggs!?

Question

My nephew's box turtle lives outside in an enclosed area, he went out to check her and found eggs buried in the sand covered with sticks, what do we do if anything? what are the next steps?

Answer 1

First,  FYI Female Box Turtles CAN carry sperm for many months, or YEARS before they decide to use it, so there is a good chance your eggs will be fertile!~

Box turtles usually nest between the months of April and July.

Nests are often dug at night. The female will lay 3-8 elliptical  eggs, about 1 1/2 inches long, into the 3-4 inch deep flask-shaped cavity. Some females lay multiple clutches of eggs spaced at 3-4 week intervals.

Box turtle eggs can incubate successfully if left in the ground,

but precautions may be needed to protect them from extreme climatic conditions and predators.

Many hobbyists enjoy incubating their turtle's eggs

artificially.

When the female has finished laying, open the nest and carefully  remove the eggs. A clean paintbrush is a useful tool for uncovering the eggs. Box turtle eggs can be successfully incubated in a variety of ways, but a few basic rules should be followed:

(1) do not shake, rotate, or turn the eggs;

(2) keep the temperature at about 80° F (27° C);

(3) maintain the humidity at about 80%.

These conditions can be met by placing the eggs on a suitable substrate (moistened vermiculite, sphagnum moss, and damp paper towels have all been used with success) inside a suitable container (plastic shoeboxes or plastic margarine tubs are commonly used, with the lids kept on to help maintain the humidity).

The container is placed in an incubator or in a location that

remains slightly above room temperature such as a cupboard on top of  a refrigerator or above a water heater. The eggs are checked regularly to make sure that the substrate remains damp. The eggs should hatch in 50-90 days. You can find more info at

http://www.tortoise .org/general/ boxcare.html

Or you can check out Yahoo groups under BOX TURTLES & find excellent advice there.

HAPPY  HATCHING!

Answer 2

Many kuddos to Barefoot Betty.  I was going to respond here, until I read her posting.  She did a fabulous job of providing the information you need, and it's accurate.

I'm not sure how many other responders you will get, but I'd recommend that you give B. Betty a best answer thumbs up.

If the lil darlins hatch; you'll be delighted with the babies (need a home for one?  lol).

I wish you success with the clutch.

Enjoy!

Answer 3

agree w/ isabellle j

Answer 4

If she isn't with a male, then the eggs are not fertile and it is best to remove them. If she is with a male, then they could very easily be fertile. It would be best to leave them alone and let nature take its course in this case. Do not touch, handle, or pick up the eggs. Leave them alone. It is best to let nature take its course. If the eggs hatch then you will have baby turtles. If they don't hatch within a month, I'm guessing, remove them. Sometimes female turtles will lay eggs without a male, but they wont be fertile.