redearslider.com

Hey there everyone.

My ~5 year old RES, Steve (named by a child, before we knew gender!) appears to be gravid. I can feel some hardness in front of her legs, and she REALLY wants to get out of her tank. I used her old 30Gal aquarium, and filled it with about 8 inches of sand and organic compost, as this website suggested. I wrapped the outside of the aquarium with some of that aquarium wallpaper so that she has privacy. My question is, when I put her in there, should I move her basking light over it? How long should she stay in there each day?

Thanks guys!

Welcome to the site! First, the hardness is in front of the rear leg, not behind it (it being the leg and tail)? Usually it's not a hard feeling, but firm. Second, is it warm enough in your area to take her outside to look for a nesting area? And when she wants to get out, do she look at you or respond to your presence? Does she do this at certain periods of the day (only in the morning, the afternoon, etc)?

Thanks for replying!

"Firmness" is a better description, and it is in front of her rear legs, in the spot that is usually squishy. It's warm enough here, however I haven't got a suitable spot on my property, and it can get kinda hairy around here... Lots of cats and eagles. When I get home from work at about 4:30 in the afternoon, she starts splashing like crazy and then she'll get up on her basking platform and "dig" with her back legs. She also doesn't really have any interest in food, however last night she downed half a romaine leaf. She's actually extremely active this morning too, which is unusual. Usually she doesn't even get up to see me.

Hmmm, if there is any dirt areas, it's worth a try. She does sound like she's ready to go!