[/b]I have an older Russian girl named Boris. Yes, Boris. Very healthy and heavy. She's perhaps 15 years old (or just a tad more), her carapace is nearly 7" long, and up until I adopted her about 2 years ago she had always lived alone. Well, at Casa Me she lives with 2 other girls and a handsome little gentleman caller named Blackie. Blackie doesn't pester her, but I've seen them getting amorous occasionally. Most of the time, their relationship is simply plastronic.
On 12-11-12, after pacing for several days and getting a bit peckish toward her tortoise table-mates, she dug a hole and laid 2 large eggs. They're incubating, and will hit the 8-week mark on February 5th. I saw her dig the nest, I saw her lay the eggs, I saw her cover them up. Definitely her eggs. Case closed? Nope.
On 1-8-13, almost exactly a month after laying the 2, and again after pacing and peckishness, she laid 3 more eggs -- a bit smaller than the first 2, but still very large. Again, I saw her dig the nest, lay, and cover them. Absolutely no doubt the eggs are from her. Busy little girl. These 3 eggs are in the incubator, too -- and will hit 8 weeks on March 5th.
Well... Yesterday morning -- just 21 days after the last 3 eggs were laid -- she started pacing again. And, she's been digging test nests again. There's every sign that she's about to start Round 3.
Please: What gives? How often can a Russian tortoise lay eggs? Is she making up for all of those 15 years without babies? She's had good UVB and heating, and a terrific diet which includes plenty of calcium and vitamins (even more since she laid the first 2 eggs). In addition to calcium powder and calcium-rich foods she's been wolfing down cuttlefish like there's no tomorrow. All of her 5 eggs so far have appeared fine -- smooth, well-shaped, apparently strong-shelled. But I don't want to strain her resources. Is it harmful for her to keep laying? Do I need to send poor little Blackie into temporary exile?
I'll appreciate any thoughts & comments.
On 12-11-12, after pacing for several days and getting a bit peckish toward her tortoise table-mates, she dug a hole and laid 2 large eggs. They're incubating, and will hit the 8-week mark on February 5th. I saw her dig the nest, I saw her lay the eggs, I saw her cover them up. Definitely her eggs. Case closed? Nope.
On 1-8-13, almost exactly a month after laying the 2, and again after pacing and peckishness, she laid 3 more eggs -- a bit smaller than the first 2, but still very large. Again, I saw her dig the nest, lay, and cover them. Absolutely no doubt the eggs are from her. Busy little girl. These 3 eggs are in the incubator, too -- and will hit 8 weeks on March 5th.
Well... Yesterday morning -- just 21 days after the last 3 eggs were laid -- she started pacing again. And, she's been digging test nests again. There's every sign that she's about to start Round 3.
Please: What gives? How often can a Russian tortoise lay eggs? Is she making up for all of those 15 years without babies? She's had good UVB and heating, and a terrific diet which includes plenty of calcium and vitamins (even more since she laid the first 2 eggs). In addition to calcium powder and calcium-rich foods she's been wolfing down cuttlefish like there's no tomorrow. All of her 5 eggs so far have appeared fine -- smooth, well-shaped, apparently strong-shelled. But I don't want to strain her resources. Is it harmful for her to keep laying? Do I need to send poor little Blackie into temporary exile?
I'll appreciate any thoughts & comments.