Re: Mitch is putting the moves on Shelly!

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Posted by JJ on May 08, 2000 at 19:14:00:

In Reply to: Mitch is putting the moves on Shelly! posted by Tim on May 07, 2000 at 21:26:08:

: I was just finishing their new pen at the new house last evening when I heard a little more commotion than normal coming from the shed. I look inside, and there's Mitch mating with Shelly! He was doing the bark/weeze sound too. I think this may be his second or third time with her since I've found scratch marks on the back of her carapace before, as well as found Mitch flipped over in the middle of the yard with no obstacles nearby. So anyway, the big question here is what should I be looking for now? They are both only 4 1/2 years old, so I doubt they'll have fertile eggs (if any come). What should I provide as a nesting site, and what behaviors should I be looking for in Shelly to know if she is ready to lay? And about how long before she might try to lay eggs? Funny...now I'm the one asking questions! Thanks for the help folks!

If she does lay eggs be prepared(have an incubator and the such) But before she lays if she paces back and forth, smells the ground or tries to dig you know she has eggs. A nesting medium I have found successful is sand mixed with dirt. however, i usually transfer the eggs later into some vermiculite. Also be sure to include a little extra calcium in her diet just in case. I'll have to get back to you on the other stuf since I have to find my record book I took notes in when I had leopards. anywho, GOOD LUCK!

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: : I was just finishing their new pen at the new house last evening when I heard a little more commotion than normal coming from the shed. I look inside, and there's Mitch mating with Shelly! He was doing the bark/weeze sound too. I think this may be his second or third time with her since I've found scratch marks on the back of her carapace before, as well as found Mitch flipped over in the middle of the yard with no obstacles nearby. So anyway, the big question here is what should I be looking for now? They are both only 4 1/2 years old, so I doubt they'll have fertile eggs (if any come). What should I provide as a nesting site, and what behaviors should I be looking for in Shelly to know if she is ready to lay? And about how long before she might try to lay eggs? Funny...now I'm the one asking questions! Thanks for the help folks! : If she does lay eggs be prepared(have an incubator and the such) But before she lays if she paces back and forth, smells the ground or tries to dig you know she has eggs. A nesting medium I have found successful is sand mixed with dirt. however, i usually transfer the eggs later into some vermiculite. Also be sure to include a little extra calcium in her diet just in case. I'll have to get back to you on the other stuf since I have to find my record book I took notes in when I had leopards. anywho, GOOD LUCK! : : JJ

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