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Help with nesting for Female RES

PostPosted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 10:43 pm
by swdotson
My female RES is about 3 years old and is about 6.5". She has a large basking area made with egg crate on the top of her 75 gallon tank so she can swim in the full tank. She seems to be healthy, is growing, basking and enjoying being a turtle. She isn't showing any signs of being in stress but I know she's close to the age/size that she could become gravid so I want to be proactive and provide a permanent place for her to lay eggs or just to dig around if she needs/wants to. I'm having trouble finding consistent information online as to how this works and the best way to go about it. She is very friendly when I am in her tank but she does NOT like to be picked up. I do it every week or so to check her shell and basically give her a good look over but I try not to handle her too much. I'd rather let her come and go as she pleases in a nest box that she has easy access to. Thanks for the input!

Re: Help with nesting for Female RES

PostPosted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 11:31 pm
by steve
Hi, how big is the setup? Nest areas need to be deep and most RES do not like indoor nest areas. Usually, it's not worth the effort unless you have a significantly more room. As for not wanting to be picked up... I think most RES don't like handling too much. Of course they all have their own personalities, so your experience will be different.

Re: Help with nesting for Female RES

PostPosted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 5:57 am
by litefoot
Hello and welcome , I agree with Steve.

Re: Help with nesting for Female RES

PostPosted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 11:34 am
by swdotson
Thank you for your quick response. How do you allow them to lay eggs if they dont like to nest inside? Isnt it bad for them not to have a place to nest? I have a deep plastic container that is 16WX22", 8" Deep, filled with a mix of 1/2 Sphagnum moss and 1/2 sand. She has a large basking area on top of the tank with 2 60 watt day bulbs and a UVB light as well. The "ceiling" to her basking area is low so the area stays plenty warm enough. Her tank is pretty bare right now as we just got the 75 gallon set up. No plants, no substrate. We rescued her from a bad home so everything we've learned has been learned sort of backward!

Re: Help with nesting for Female RES

PostPosted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 12:11 pm
by litefoot
At my old home I made a 15'x10' or more area just for nesting on the side of my in ground pond , had ever type substrate known on the internet ! My Minnie always played on it , basked BUT she was picky and use the other side of the pond in the garden next to a bench and some fountain grass. Took ground temps put same soil in nesting area and still no. Always by that dam bench. Who knows ?

Most find better luck just letting in the yard / garden , just keep an eye on her !

Re: Help with nesting for Female RES

PostPosted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 11:24 am
by JoW
HI, I have taken on a RES, I'm pretty sure shes female. It's been a steep learning curve, she's 10 years old, was in a 20 gallon tank, I've bought a 40 gallon tank and have a decent basking platform. There is gravel in the bottom and Im thinking i should add some plants...I'm still researching what to put in a tank.

My main problem is nesting. She is 6-7" longand as far as I know has never had the chance to nest. Am I right in thinking she should have an outside area, secured, to nest? How do I know shes ready to nest? Any info helpfull as I really have no clue and want her to be healthy and happy.

Re: Help with nesting for Female RES

PostPosted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 5:21 pm
by steve
Hi, you will want to remove the gravel. Single females might never produce any eggs, so I would just make sure you have a good sized tank, a good canister filter, a basking area, thermometer, uva/uvb lamp, and a basking lamp. I wouldn't do anything else regarding nesting unless she regularly becomes gravid or is showing some symptoms.

Re: Help with nesting for Female RES

PostPosted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 8:54 am
by JoW
Thanks Steve,

You say remove the gravel, but I read that she needs this for moving around? Could you just confirm please.

Jo

Re: Help with nesting for Female RES

PostPosted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 8:46 pm
by steve
Gravel as a substrate (bottom of tank) is not good since she will likely eat some of it. Sand or a bare bottom are better options.

Re: Help with nesting for Female RES

PostPosted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 11:01 am
by JoW
Thanks Steve.