One of my female box turtles is nesting for the first time. I got her when she was just a couple years old and have had her 8 years now so I’m excited about her first clutch. My question is I watched her dig a nest yesterday evening and when I checked this morning the nest was fully dug and fully filled in and disguised but no eggs in the hole. She lost 15 grams since Wednesday so I’m not sure if she layed them somewhere else and I just can’t find the nest or if she had a large bowel movement but 15 grams seems like a big loss for a bowel movement to me. The enclose is 16ftx16ft with heavy vegetation so it’s possible I just can’t find the eggs but I’m curious if it’s normal for a first time nester to fully dig and rebury a nest without laying eggs in it? What do yall think? Did she hide her eggs elsewhere or do you think she’s still got them and looking to nest still? Either way I’ve got two other female box turtles test nesting around and a couple Russian tortoises too so nesting season is ramping up here! Thanks
Box turtle nesting
- Thread starter kobobird
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- Nov 17, 2013
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15 grams does not seem to me as though it is enough of a weight loss to account for a clutch of eggs. Some females will sometimes dig nests but don't actually have any eggs to lay. The eggs (if she actually has any) are most likely still in the turtle. I would keep watching her over the next few days to see what transpires.
If you really want to know for sure if she still has eggs to be laid, you could get an X-ray taken of the turtle.
I have not bred box turtles, but what you describe is common with tortoises. Sometimes they dig a hole and then walk away, and sometimes they fill it in. I call these "test holes".
Tortoises typically empty their bladder in the area where they are digging nest or test holes. I'll bet that is where the 15 grams went.
@Yvonne G has loads of box turtle experience. This tag should bring her here to comment and share some of her copious quantities of wisdom.
Just a test hole. Sometimes females go through the motion, and find out they dont like the spot. Just keep and eye on her at dawn and dusk and you'll catch her in the act.
Look for a lot of pacing and sniffing the ground.
Look for a lot of pacing and sniffing the ground.
My female once dug a hole, noticed me watching her and stopped, then continued. I checked the then filled-in hole the next day, it was empty. I dug around, and found another hole a foot away with a clutch of eggs inside.
Whether it was a "test hole" or she wanted to confuse me since she saw me watching, I don't know.
Whether it was a "test hole" or she wanted to confuse me since she saw me watching, I don't know.
