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Well I took Dolly my DT to the vet on Tuesday. She has been pacing and digging "test" holes to lay since 5/10/08. Probably a dozen different holes by now and no eggs. Even though she is eating, pooping and active I was really concerned that she wasn't laying because something was wrong. This is the 3rd summer I have had her and the first time she is exhibiting desire to lay eggs even though in 2006 she was -xrayed due to a respiratory issue and there were eggs clearly visible.

I decided to take her to the same vet that treated her before which was 80 miles away. Mostly because I knew she had the previous x ray to compare if needed. I was there for about 2 hours waiting for the x-ray and fecal tests. Then the vet showed me the x-ray and the eggs are in the uterus, (upper half of the body), there is the same number of eggs as in 2006 all lined up in there. They were not in exactly the same pattern but the vet couldn't say whether they were the same eggs from 2006 or new ones. The vet didn't have any treatment to offer, she said she needed to research using oxytocin (so I think I need a more experienced reptile vet), she said to wait and try giving her different soils to try to find one she likes(which I have been doing).

Dolly did have positive fecal test so I got medication for that. To ease my mind that Dolly is not in any current medical distress it cost me $175 and an entire day and Dolly is still pacing and digging. I'm all for nature taking it's course and not intervening unless absolutely necessary so hope with me that Dolly just lays those darn eggs! Any comments or advice is greatly appreciated.

The x-ray would have shown if she were egg-bound, so you don't have to worry about that.

When my rescued Russian, Fat Betty, dug a few test holes without laying eggs, I set the sprinkler near the spot that she was interested in. I only let it run for about 10 minutes. The next day she dug a hole and laid eggs.

Also, they worry about predation of the eggs, so it would be a good idea for her not to see you hovering around watching her. Try to stay out of sight.

Yvonne

Guess what, I went out to sprinkle like suggested and I found this at 6:00pm sitting on top of the ground under a bush that Dolly sat under today. There is no loosened soil there or a sign of any hole. She just laid that one egg on top of the ground. What does that mean? I wonder why she just laid one. Maybe tomorrow she will lay the rest. I was so shocked! What should I do with it?

Since it specifically states in the DFG guidelines that it is illegal to artificially incubate the eggs of a desert tortoise, I don't think any of us should give you any help or instructions about your egg. (But its pretty exciting, huh?)

Yvonne

Leslie
Reading your post about the pacing and digging many holes is what Wilbur is doing also. I'm thinking that it may be the fact that I'm watching her to much because of the excitment of her first eggs. I'm going to try watering the ground. Our ground is really hard. Let you know.

Hi Leslie,
You need to make sure the ground is packed down, but easily diggable. If that makes sense. Making it damp should be the best thing.
She laid the one egg because she is getting frustrated with the fact she can't seem to dig a proper nest for her eggs.
Keep us updated as to how it's going.

Danny

I understand what you mean. Thanks. I sure am getting my exercise shoveling, digging, loosening, packing and moving dirt. By the way I am doing this when she is sleeping so she doesn't see me. She has several choices now of different soil types. Some areas more wet, more shaded, sunnier, drier, sandier, loamier, more clay like, and different combinations of all those things. She has a 40x20 foot yard to herself. If I could lay eggs there I would.

Sounds like she's making sure you get good exercise!!!

Is it illegal to NATURALLY incubate it? Like digging a proper hole to put it in?

The law states that it is illegal to artificially incubate desert tortoise eggs. So that means that you can leave them in the ground to let nature take its course (ants, predators, etc).

Yvonne