reluctant to lay eggs

[jonnyk22222]

I aquired two adult females rescued from a Chesapeake Bay fish market about 2 months ago. One has taken farily well to captivity eating shrimp and swordfish (yah I know expensive tastes). The other has refused food. Both turtles are parasite free. Both are gravid, and the eggs feel calcified and ready to go, but they will not lay them. I am housing them outside in a large kiddie pool with a ramp leading to a clothes basket filled with a slightly damp mix of sand and sphagnum moss. Another basket is turned upside down and wired to the first to prevent escape. They love to bask on the ramp and will wander into the basket, but neither has layed her eggs yet. My vet thinks that when the female that refuses to eat releases her eggs, she will regain her appetite. Does anyone have any suggestions for getting them to nest? I want to avoid the use of egg laying inducing drugs.

[macrospilota]

It won’t be easy for the wild caught and the eggs will likely be hyper-calcified and may not hatch. You might try getting a plastic tub from your local walmart or hardware store. Fill it with 6-8″ of slightly moist sand (not wet), and place her in it every other night or so until she lays them. Just feel her sides to see if she has laid them in the morning and return her to the tank. If you released her in the chesapeake then she should lay her eggs as well. Other than that you might have to use Oxytocin if she still has them this fall. I have seen the eggs have to be surgically removed when they stayed to long (removed the rear half of the plastron). I have also seen them die from being egg bound just like birds. good luck, Scott — In diamondbackterrapins@yahoogroups.com, “jonnyk22222”

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