General Care Discussion :: How do you know if your turtle is Pregnant

[izziepop07]

I posted a discussion in the urgent care section about my turtle being lethargic, brown stuff (mucus I think) coming out of her nose, and not eating. We have had her since October 2007, and she has in the past couple of months dug in her gravel A LOT with her back legs, she is our only turtle and the only time she was with other turtles was before we bought her at the Pet store. How long does it take for her to lay her eggs? I would think she would have laid them before now if we got her in October. Any information would be good, we are taking her to the herp vet today at 3:30 either way.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

[TheComputerGremlin]

She is doubtfully pregnant, but she may be gravid (you don't need a male for a female to be with eggs). If she's been digging a lot with her back legs, she may be trying to lay eggs, and if she doesn't have a proper nesting area, the eggs may break inside her causing an infection. Since you have a vet appointment already, have the vet take an X-ray of her to see if she's holding eggs.

[izziepop07]

Wow, I did not know that! I will definitely have them take an x-ray! Thats interesting that she doesn't need a male! Thank you for the advice!

[Ktulu]

the digging could be a sign she has eggs, but the lethargy and brown mucus, that's not a sign of eggs, that sound more like an infection. If a female has eggs, they become extra active rather than lethargic. They will go nuts trying to escape their enclosure so they can go out and find a nest.

[izziepop07]

She was going nuts for quite awhile, and then Monday she just started to be lazy and sleep and not eat. So maybe she got an infection if they broke inside her or something. Because she was going really crazy and when we let her walk around the house she kept trying to climb through the door and all of that. I will definitely ask the herp vet when I go today! It's amazing to me that they don't need a male to have eggs! You learn something new each day!

[RES4ever]

Also try carefuly feeling in the soft area around her hind legs. You may feel round eggs. If so you don't know if they are fertilized. Just be careful not to break them.