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Is there a way to tell if your tortoise is pregnant?
Eggs?
- Thread starter tobyandlydiaâ¤
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Has yours developed cravings for pickles and ice cream?
Seriously, I've no idea, other than observing it digging holes in it's enclosure. Maybe someone can offer an alternative idea.
Seriously, I've no idea, other than observing it digging holes in it's enclosure. Maybe someone can offer an alternative idea.
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My female just broke into the freezer and ate all of my ben and jerrys :'(
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Some claim that a tortoise can be palpated to feel if a tortoise is gravid (carrying eggs). It's easily done with most turtle species. I have yet in over 27 years and thousands of egg bearing female tortoises been able to feel eggs by palpation. But you can give it shot:
To palpate-hold your tortoise in both hands, either away from you or facing you, whichever way you're more holding her securely. slide either your index finger or pinky finger (depending upon which way your tortoise is facing), up in the area in front of your tortoise's rear legs. What would be considered they're hip joint. Do this on both sides simultaneously. Then by gently rocking your tortoise from side to side with your fingers in place, if they are carrying well developed eggs, they can be felt. For lack of a better description-they feel like large marbles in a leather bag rolling around against each other.
This is very easy to do with turtles. Like I said, I have yet to ever be able to feel for gravidity by palpulating a tortoise. Instead I watch their actions. Gravid Testudo species will begin smelling the ground, some occasionally scratching the surface with their front claws and then smelling. Most will begin pacing and sometime frantically searching for nesting spots. Some will dig small shallow holes (sometime several) that we refer to as "test holes". Some will even dig an entire nest, not deposit eggs and either leave it open or cover it up as if there were eggs in it. When they do this they almost always dig a true nest within 24 hours after. Even fewer will show little to no signs of pre-nesting and suddenly and rapidly dig a hole, deposit eggs and quickly cover it. Sometimes all within a half hour.
To palpate-hold your tortoise in both hands, either away from you or facing you, whichever way you're more holding her securely. slide either your index finger or pinky finger (depending upon which way your tortoise is facing), up in the area in front of your tortoise's rear legs. What would be considered they're hip joint. Do this on both sides simultaneously. Then by gently rocking your tortoise from side to side with your fingers in place, if they are carrying well developed eggs, they can be felt. For lack of a better description-they feel like large marbles in a leather bag rolling around against each other.
This is very easy to do with turtles. Like I said, I have yet to ever be able to feel for gravidity by palpulating a tortoise. Instead I watch their actions. Gravid Testudo species will begin smelling the ground, some occasionally scratching the surface with their front claws and then smelling. Most will begin pacing and sometime frantically searching for nesting spots. Some will dig small shallow holes (sometime several) that we refer to as "test holes". Some will even dig an entire nest, not deposit eggs and either leave it open or cover it up as if there were eggs in it. When they do this they almost always dig a true nest within 24 hours after. Even fewer will show little to no signs of pre-nesting and suddenly and rapidly dig a hole, deposit eggs and quickly cover it. Sometimes all within a half hour.
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Thaanks
I can't tell whether they are "pregnant", but my females do tell me (with their behavior) when they are about to lay. They get restless. I see the females roaming much more than usual. I see them spending more time in areas of the enclosure that they normally don't spend much time in. They come out earlier and go to bed later, and the often dig little test holes around the enclosure a day or two before actual laying.
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Thats exactly what she's doing, thanks
tobyandlydia⤠said:Thats exactly what she's doing, thanks
In that case, שלימזל (Mazel tov)!
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