Is my female gravid?
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My female northern DBT is almost 2 years old and a good 6″ long. A few months ago, I thought she was getting fat, so I reduced the amount of food she gets (Reptomin pellets, a few krill once a week or less) and feed her every other day. She seemed to lose a little weight, but still has a generally puffy appearance, especially around where her arms and legs meet the shell. I have heard a few things – first, if a turtle is overweight, they cannot pull all of themselves into the shell when they hide, and her little fat bubbles certainly stick out. I have also heard that females retain water when they’re gravid, and I’m concerned that she might be, although I have no males and she seems young to be ready to lay eggs. I’m very nervous because she doesn’t have a beach or anything, just a dock to bask on. I have heard that female reptiles often become gravid in captivity and their eggs, never laid, rot and kill the girls. She is otherwise healthy and active. I don’t hibernate her and she is kept in 1.014 sg brackish water. Any idea what it might be?
Hi, Sounds like it is most likely fat. 6″ prior to their second third year is an extremely fast growth rate considering wild ones may only have reached 2-3″ in that same time frame. 4-5″ are more reasonable growth rates for that time frame in captive specimens. So it is apparent that she has had access to a lot of food and has packed on the inches. Reducing her feeding to every other day is a good start. Changing her diet is also a good idea since Reptomin is junk. Take a look at the ingredients and see how much of it consists of mostly starch. If you do decide to go this route, go with Mazuri Aquatic Turtle diet, Jumbomin or Zoo Med. Getting her to accept something else may not be the easiest thing to do though since the one thing Reptomin has going for it is its palatability. The last thing to consider is possibly getting her a larger tank to roam in and provide more exercise. Females generally don’t mature sexually until at least 6 years of age so it is highly unlikely that she is gravid. If she were, you should be able to feel the eggs above her hind legs. When and if she does become gravid in the future, she will most likely drop her eggs in the water. Turtles have a tendency to do this and becoming egg-bound is not as common as in other reptiles. One can also get a vet to prescribe oxytocin to induce her to lay if this ever happens. -Stephen C — In diamondbackterrapins@yahoogroups.com, “barclay_annie”
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