breeding redfoots

[Mick.Ire]

hey I know someone who thinks her female red might be gravid, thing is it's only 6 inches. I mainly keep Africans apart from my yellowfoot baby and star so is this too small. It's in with a male of similar size. she's climbing the walls and doing a little dance like some of our torts do before nesting.
Just in case have a few Q's.
What's the incubation temps for male and females?
I imagine humidity has to be high, 80%+ right?
What water/vermiculite ratio is best for the Tupperware box going into the incubator?
Thanks in advance.
I'll be directing her to this forum too.

 

[Baoh]

Hey, Mick, I use 82-84F for males and 88-90F for females in most cases. I keep humidity high. 80% or 85% should work. I sometimes go higher, but you want to avoid any visible condensation on the egg shell surface. I do not use vermiculite or perlite regularly, so I will others chime in there. Different people use different amounts. Equal masses sometimes. Often whatever makes a clump that water is not dripping/streaming out of when handled.

Would you get her to post a photo of the female lined up with a ruler or measuring tape? I am always intensely curious about breeding minima.

 

[Millerlite]

I use 86 for neutral in box turtles seems about the same 84 is safe


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[N2TORTS]

I have herd of Cherry Head Males reaching puberty at a relative small size, but would be hard pressed to actually think a 6” Redfoot is carrying eggs. The habits you are witnessing , are built in normal instincts and a sign your little girl is growing up. Although I would imagine anything is possible , but the next question would be …are the eggs fertile? I’m just not sure enough that a smaller female would have the calcium capacity and build up to produce fertile eggs. I can attest that when you do have a gravid tortoise - in this case Redfoots, you most certainly can tell she is gravid by lifting her up , their weight changes considerably with a belly full of eggs.

JD~

 

[Mick.Ire]

I have herd of Cherry Head Males reaching puberty at a relative small size, but would be hard pressed to actually think a 6” Redfoot is carrying eggs. The habits you are witnessing , are built in normal instincts and a sign your little girl is growing up. Although I would imagine anything is possible , but the next question would be …are the eggs fertile? I’m just not sure enough that a smaller female would have the calcium capacity and build up to produce fertile eggs. I can attest that when you do have a gravid tortoise - in this case Redfoots, you most certainly can tell she is gravid by lifting her up , their weight changes considerably with a belly full of eggs.

JD~

She said the female is putting on 4-5grams a day. She sent me a pic of the tort which ill post later, it really looks too small to me.

 

[cdmay]

I also tend to think that it is doubtful that a six inch female red-foot is actually gravid. Although I would like very much to know if she does in fact lay eggs---fertile or not.
Her restless behavior could be for a number of reasons.