Can a female tortoise become eggbound if she has NEVER had any male company?

[ladyengineer]

I don't know if this is a silly question or not, so please be kind, but I heard about reptiles becoming eggbound a little while back, and it interested me. I don't know whether my tortoise is female or male (he's still young), but I did wonder whether, since he's kept alone, (as I only have one tortoise with no plans to get another) if he did turn out to be a she, would she be safe from eggbinding if kept alone? Do female tortoises lay unfertilized eggs like chickens do? or do they just never produce the eggs?

I have seen that tortoises can still lay fertile eggs if they've ever been kept with a male, as they can store sperm, but what if they've NEVER been kept with males?

This is a purely academic question to be honest. I have tried to find this out by searching the forum, and the web, but this question doesn't seem to have been addressed that I can find. Could someone who has kept females totally isolated from males answer this question?

 

[tortadise]

Females can lay eggs, infertile eggs too. But typically they need to start a cycle. If they aren't kept with other tortoises they will start a cycle on there own but many years down the line from an offspring. Becoming egg bound is only an issue if they have an unsuitable location to dig a nest. Most times even though infertile the eggs will be laid upon the top of substrate. But not always.

So in short.
Yes females can lay eggs without a male.
They will be infertile.
Egg bound only if inadequate area to dig nest.

Hope it helped.

 

[dmmj]

My answer was going to be unbelievably cruel, cruel enough to make angels weep, but since you asked for kindness. Yes, they can, less common, but it still happens.

 

[Jacqui]

Yes they can become egg bound, even if never with a male. There are several things/conditions which could cause them to become egg bound.

 

[HLogic]

Yes they can become egg bound, even if never with a male. There are several things/conditions which could cause them to become egg bound.

I concur.

 

[ladyengineer]

Thanks very much everyone, definitely good to know that it's possible. (if one knows what is possible, one can look out for it )