My turtle laid eggs in the water, what do I do?
If your turtle laid eggs in the water, you have a couple options.
You can try to save the turtle egg by carefully picking up the egg and putting it on dry land. This must be done very quickly, because the turtle hatchling will drown if the egg is left in the water for more than a couple minutes. If you want to do everything you can to save the turtle, I would recommend that you buy a turtle egg incubator. This will help regulate the temperature in order to provide the best conditions for the egg.
It is important to note that the incubation period for a turtle egg can range anywhere from 2 to 3 months, so it might be a while before you see a baby turtle.
If you suspect the turtle hatchling has already died, or you don’t think it will survive, you should just discard the egg. There is no need to feel bad about throwing out a dead turtle egg. Unlike mammals, turtles do not get attached to their young, so you don’t need to worry about your turtle being sad.
If you are adamant about saving the baby turtle, it is important to recognize the signs that your turtle is pregnant. Therefore, you will be more prepared when your turtle actually lays the eggs.
Pregnant turtle behavior
A turtle that is pregnant will display some common signs connected to pregnancy. For starters, they will start spending more of their time on land. They will likely start digging around the substrate or near land plants. A pregnant turtle does this in order to make a nest for their soon to come eggs. They usually make a nest by gathering up a pile of substrate and then digging a small hole. Turtles do this in the wild in order to hide their eggs from predators.
Interestingly enough, a pregnant turtle might stop eating a couple weeks before they lay eggs. This is because they want to save enough room in their stomach for their eggs. They might also not eat because of pregnancy sickness and nausea.
Can turtles have eggs without mating?
Yes, a female turtle can lay eggs without mating with a male turtle. This is why it is very common for female turtles that live alone to lay eggs. While they can lay eggs, the turtle’s have a 0% chance of survival since they have not been fertilized.
An unfertilized turtle egg is very similar to an unfertilized chicken egg. The embryo will die within a couple days, and then the egg will start to rot.
However, it is important to note that female turtles can hold onto sperm for up to three years. This means that they can lay a fertilized egg three years after mating with a male turtle. For this reason, you should never assume a turtle egg is unfertilized, unless the turtle has lived alone for at least three years.