Tortoise egg??

[mariaberesford]

Hi all
I have a 26yr Hermann tortoise who, in the warm weather lives in our large enclosed garden. Today when I went out to feed her, there was an egg by her. It probably is an unfortunately fallen bird egg but just looks very different to anything I've seen before.. so wondered if it could be that my tortoise has laid an egg?? She's never been near a male so not fertile. It's white, more oblong shape than round, and has a band of knobbles around centre of shell.
Pic below
Any thoughts??
Maria and Harri tort x

 

[Tom]

Hi all
I have a 26yr Hermann tortoise who, in the warm weather lives in our large enclosed garden. Today when I went out to feed her, there was an egg by her. It probably is an unfortunately fallen bird egg but just looks very different to anything I've seen before.. so wondered if it could be that my tortoise has laid an egg?? She's never been near a male so not fertile. It's white, more oblong shape than round, and has a band of knobbles around centre of shell.
Pic below
Any thoughts??
Maria and Harri tort x

Your picture didn't attach.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Yep….your picture did not attach. 😩

 

[mariaberesford]

 

[mariaberesford]

I think it has now?

 

[Beasty_Artemis]

Looks kind of like a tortoise egg...?

 

[Yvonne G]

Tortoise eggs look like that, and when they've been retained for a while after the calcium has been applied they develop that bumpy look. If it DID come from her there may be a few more inside her. For the next week or so soak her in warm water daily in a tub she can't climb out of. If you can afford an x-ray that would let you know if she has retained more eggs.

 

[TaylorTortoise]

Tortoise eggs look like that, and when they've been retained for a while after the calcium has been applied they develop that bumpy look. If it DID come from her there may be a few more inside her. For the next week or so soak her in warm water daily in a tub she can't climb out of. If you can afford an x-ray that would let you know if she has retained more eggs.

Is this bad?

 

[MenagerieGrl]

Ya, that one looks a lil funky.
It may, or may not be a problem. Hopefully with soaks, if she does have more egg's they come out. Being egg bound is NOT a good situ.

 

[Yvonne G]

Is this bad?

Retained eggs? Yes, could be bad. But sometimes, if the female can't find the right place to dig a nest, she holds onto the eggs until conditions are right.

 

[TaylorTortoise]

Retained eggs? Yes, could be bad. But sometimes, if the female can't find the right place to dig a nest, she holds onto the eggs until conditions are right.

NOT sure what a healthy egg is supposed to look like. What temps do you incubate the eggs at when they first come out? And is there a rotation of the egg or temps with the incubation period?

 

[MenagerieGrl]

I don't believe the egg's are supposed to be bumpy like that. It might indicate that that egg has been "In there" for some time, getting extra calcium applied to the shell

 

[mariaberesford]

Ya, that one looks a lil funky.
It may, or may not be a problem. Hopefully with soaks, if she does have more egg's they come out. Being egg bound is NOT a good situ.

What do you mean "looks abit funky" and "may or may not be a problem"??? Please elaborate

 

[mariaberesford]

 

[mariaberesford]

She's laid another!!

 

[mariaberesford]

Bathing her again as I think she might have more...

 

[Tom]

NOT sure what a healthy egg is supposed to look like. What temps do you incubate the eggs at when they first come out? And is there a rotation of the egg or temps with the incubation period?

Incubation temperature varies with species and breeder preference. For most species somewhere between 85-89F is best. No rotation of the eggs.

They must remain in the same orientation at all times. Many people mark them with an "x" on top so they don't get turned.

Some people like to have the incubation temperature drop one or two degrees at night for some species. There are exceptions, but for most tortoises in most situations a fixed set temp all the way through works.

 

[Yvonne G]

You need to give her an area of dirt so she can dig a hole about 6" deep. If she hasn't been with a male they're not fertile, but retained eggs can lead to her being egg bound.The California Turtle and Tortoise Club has posted a good article on this subject. I don't know how to copy/paste from this device, but ask Google for the CTTC article by Mader, "Egg Binding In Chelonians."

 

[mariaberesford]

Thank you everyone for all your advise. I took Harri to a specialist tort vet on Saturday morning who kept her over night. They xrayed her and found one more egg which she passed naterally. Due to the eggs not looking so good they think she may have a problem with a small tube or something and suggest sterilisation so she doesn't encounter any potential problems. Thank you all for your help. I'd have never known to take her to vets without you.
H says thanks too!