box turtle pregnancy info

[turtlepower]

hello everyone! i am a new member looking for any info regarding my buddies new female box turtle. we're assuming she may be pregnant. i have a male and today while they were playing outside in the dirt she started digging a hole with her back legs. then walked to him. it was cool like she told him something. he obviously wasn't her mate but he walked right over to hole, sat over it then walked away. we thought he maybe could of fertilized or something. if thats even possible or how it works. i don't know. she went back and smelt it. we thought for sure she would start dropping eggs but nothing yet. maybe she's just not ready yet. anyone know?

[Aaron_S]

To my knowledge turtles don't lay eggs then fertilize them. That's usually reserved for fish and amphibians.

You might need to ask someone more knowledgable about turtle breeding to make sure she's gravid.

[Slithergirl]

Turtle eggs are fertilized while still in the mama. You can palpate her by gripping one of her back legs firmly and extending it, then easily use your finger to to feel up in the leg hole for anything that feels like an egg or gently rock her side to side to feel for movement. She can have eggs that are not fertilized as well. Tell your friend that an awesome place for turtle info is Turtle Times the Turtle and Tortoise Web Portal of Choice! (http://www.turtletimes.com)