My parents were taking care of my turtle for the past year, and she had been a happy and healthy turtle for the most of it. Her habitat always clean, her shell nice and shiny, and her appetite very strong.
About a month or two ago, they reported that my turtle's eating habits were slowing down. In the winter it normally does slow down from what I have experienced so I thought nothing of it. I told them to relax and that she was going to eat when she was hungry.
3 weeks had past and she had not eaten anything. Not even her favorite shrimp.
I suggested letting her walk around the house, perhaps she wanted to get out of the tank for some exercise, but it was reported that her walk was not normal, and that she seemed like she just wanted to be left alone. Another week went by, she nibbled on her turtle bone, but that's about it.
Based on reports of her behavior, I said to them that she might have to lay eggs, but this was not her normal egg laying season. She had been with them for about year had already gone through the motions of wanting to nest and lay eggs. Her normal amount is about 4-5 at a time, and a month later, another 3... and then she is done. Usually her behavior changes during this time, but never her appetite.
I came to see her the next day, and she was swimming in her tank, appearing normal... perhaps a little fat... but normal. When she looked at me, and me at her, I would have never suspected what was growing inside of her.
The next morning, she laid 17 eggs!!!
How is this possible? They all looked to be the same color, same texture, as if they were produced at the same time.
That morning she was hungry again, and the next day swimming around faster than ever. She was her normal self again.
It is now a few weeks later, and she is starting to go through her behavior changes again. She wants to nest. How many are going to come this time?
