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Hi there. I have a couple of questions regarding my turtle. She's gravid and has been for a month or so and this her 1st time having eggs (I could feel them).

1) How long can she be left in her box? Today she's been there for 10 hours and she's made a nice hole but I don't want to move her and I don't know if she's laid any eggs.

2) How long should this (me putting her in her nesting box everyday) keep going if she doesn't lay eggs? I mean she makes really good sized holes and she doesn't try to frantically climb out anymore. So I take that as a good sign. I also heard that if it's their 1st time laying they will take longer then usual.


Thanks for your help.

Did she dig with her hind feet? I'd only put her in when she's showing those signs.

Yes she did. She had a fairly big hole last night.

I know when to put her in (when she shows the signs) but I don't know how long to leave her in there. I'm thinking of taking my just finished margarine container, clean it, fill it with water and bury it in the soil a bit so she can get to water whenever she needs it. I feed her before she goes in anyway (I feed her once a day), but I do worry about her getting too dry in there (since she's been left there for hours at a time).

I would't worry about her becoming dry. How deep is the box?

The box itself is very deep but the soil/sand mixture is around 5 or so inches deep.

It's possible she stops digging when if gets to the bottom, indicating that it's not deep enough for safe keeping of eggs.

She doesn't dig to the bottom though.

How far does she dig? Is the dirt dry?

She digs 2-3 inches and stops. The mixture is a bit wet, but mostly dry. I saw on the website here that it's not supposed to be too wet.

No, but it can't be too dry either.

I just added some water on 1 side of her box, and if its too wet for her, then she can go on the other side.

Also, how long can I leave her in there for once she starts showing the signs?

You can leave her in there as long as you want. If she was digging in there then that is a good sign that she is happy with the environment (maybe). When she is done digging and starts to just hang out, then you can put her back in her tank. If she isn't ready to be back in her tank, she'll let you know (like fighting with you as you take her back, or going frantic shortly after being put back). Don't be surprised if she hangs out in her tank and then goes frantic a few hours later.
Unless she is in the middle of digging, it won't kill her if you accidentally put her back when she is not ready. You can simply return her to the bin (nest) and leave her be.
You don't need to worry about feeding her or giving her water - she'll most likely stop eating when she is ready to lay.
I also noticed - though it could have been my hopeful imagination - that when Penelope stopped eating, she pooped like crazy for a couple of days, and then went frantic.
Back to your nesting question - since I have nothing better to do than analyze my turtle - I noticed that her abandoning a spot seemed to have more to do with dirt / mud falling back into the hole than the wetness or dryness of the dirt itself. That combined with wanting to be alone.
I suggest that you assess the dampness by trying to dig a little hole with your hand - if it sticks like mud, then its too wet. If it keeps falling back into the hole, it's too dry. They will dig in the dirt and flick it out to create a hole. If dirt keeps falling back in, then it ruins all the fun. If it is too muddy or wet, when they go to flick out some dirt, it just sticks on their foot, ergo no progress. Just my theory.
Oh! and another unproven theory...if she digs a hole and walks away - leave the hole as-is...she may return to it.

Thanks so much for answering my questions and making me feel better about what I've been doing.

I've read your thread about Penelope and I hope she's doing well these days.

How ive always make my nesting mixture moist Is first to make it real wet in seperate container. Pic up hand full. Squeeze it in a ball which releases the excess water. Then put it in the nesting tank. I find it to be really moist but not muddy. Ive always done it that way and had sucess now with getting, box, wood, painted, musk and now diamondback terrapins to lay eggs.