How does reproduction occur in turtles?

The laying of eggs in land turtles occurs 1 to 2 months after fertilization. It is preceded by warning signs. The female "visits" potential nesting sites. Before digging her nest, she often behaves like a male and climbs on other peers. Then, she starts to make a hole 6 to 10 cm deep with her hind legs, in a sunny and slightly moist area. She usually lays eggs in late morning or late evening. When the time for laying comes, she typically faces her back to the sun, her tail becomes still, and the eggs begin to come out. These are oval, white eggs, 2 to 3 cm long. The shell is hard, and each egg weighs about fifteen grams. There are generally 6 eggs per laying (and 2 to 3 layings per year). The laying process lasts several hours (typically between 2 and 4 hours). When laying is complete, the exhausted turtle covers the hole with earth and adds twigs and leaves. It is important not to disturb the turtle during laying, as it might interrupt the process. Additionally, beware of domestic animals (dogs and cats) and wild predators that might eat the eggs. In captivity, make sure the turtle can find an appropriate place to lay eggs. Otherwise, egg retention could occur, causing serious health problems for the turtle.

The laying of eggs in sea turtles occurs at the female turtle's birthplace on a beach. Typically, the female emerges from the water at night (to avoid excessive heat) and climbs onto the beach. She digs a hole with her forelimbs, lays the eggs inside, and then covers the hole. The process can take up to 3 hours. She then returns to the sea. The turtle usually lays 150 eggs in one session! However, many eggs or newborns will be eaten by predators (seagulls, etc.). The turtle can lay several times in one season (usually between 3 to 5 times), but always with a minimum 15-day interval. Depending on the species of turtle, the female will go to the beach to lay alone, or several hundred turtles will lay at the same time, or even several thousand: this phenomenon is called "arribada" and usually lasts a week.

 

Incubation of eggs

For land turtles, the incubation temperature must be between 27 and 33 °C. If the temperature is not sufficient, an incubator must be used. It is important to know that the incubation temperature determines the sex of the newborns: at 27 - 29°C, the embryos will be male, at 30-31°C there will be half male and half female, and at 31-33°C there will only be females. Incubation lasts from 75 to 90 days.

For sea turtles, incubation generally lasts 2 months. Similarly, the sex of the newborns depends on the incubation temperature: below 29°C, the babies will be male, above that, they will be female, and in between, there will be half male and half female. 

 

Hatching and initial care for newborns

For land turtles, the hatching of eggs can take several hours, generally from 1 to 3 days. Babies have a horny tooth at the tip of the beak that allows them to break the shell to get out. During the hatching period, it is unnecessary to help the young turtle out of the egg. Indeed, the young remain inside the shell while the yolk sac (which contains energy reserves) is absorbed. Therefore, there is no need to hasten the hatching. The baby turtle emerges crumpled from its egg. It has a navel on the plastron, a scar that will disappear later. When the young is entirely out, it takes a bath. In captivity, a container with a little warm water should be set up to allow the baby to drink for 3 to 5 minutes. Then, it generally burrows into the ground. In captivity, there are usually two different containers: the incubator and the nursery, integrated 3 days after birth. It is generally at this time that the baby turtle begins to feed. Like its parents, it is herbivorous, but feeds on softer shoots (dandelion, clover...). In captivity, you can cut plants into small pieces to facilitate their task.

All sea turtle eggs hatch at the same time, and the newborns immediately head to the sea, where they start active swimming for several days. After about a week, they become pelagic, meaning they stop actively swimming, allowing themselves to be carried by currents and searching for food. Then, the young become sedentary.



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Common diseases in land turtles
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When and how does the turtle hibernate?
I want a water turtle!
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The laying of eggs in land turtles occurs 1 to 2 months after fertilization. It is preceded by warning signs. The female "visits" potential nesting sites. Before digging her nest, she often behaves like a male and climbs on other peers. Then, she starts to make a hole 6 to 10 cm deep with her hind legs, in a sunny and slightly moist area. She usually lays eggs in late morning or late evening. When the time for laying comes, she typically faces her back to the sun, her tail becomes still, and the eggs begin to come out. These are oval, white eggs, 2 to 3 cm long. The shell is hard, and each egg weighs about fifteen grams. There are generally 6 eggs per laying (and 2 to 3 layings per year). The laying process lasts several hours (typically between 2 and 4 hours). When laying is complete, the exhausted turtle covers the hole with earth and adds twigs and leaves. It is important not to disturb the turtle during laying, as it might interrupt the process. Additionally, beware of domestic animals (dogs and cats) and wild predators that might eat the eggs. In captivity, make sure the turtle can find an appropriate place to lay eggs. Otherwise, egg retention could occur, causing serious health problems for the turtle.

The laying of eggs in sea turtles occurs at the female turtle's birthplace on a beach. Typically, the female emerges from the water at night (to avoid excessive heat) and climbs onto the beach. She digs a hole with her forelimbs, lays the eggs inside, and then covers the hole. The process can take up to 3 hours. She then returns to the sea. The turtle usually lays 150 eggs in one session! However, many eggs or newborns will be eaten by predators (seagulls, etc.). The turtle can lay several times in one season (usually between 3 to 5 times), but always with a minimum 15-day interval. Depending on the species of turtle, the female will go to the beach to lay alone, or several hundred turtles will lay at the same time, or even several thousand: this phenomenon is called "arribada" and usually lasts a week.

 

Incubation of eggs

For land turtles, the incubation temperature must be between 27 and 33 °C. If the temperature is not sufficient, an incubator must be used. It is important to know that the incubation temperature determines the sex of the newborns: at 27 - 29°C, the embryos will be male, at 30-31°C there will be half male and half female, and at 31-33°C there will only be females. Incubation lasts from 75 to 90 days.

For sea turtles, incubation generally lasts 2 months. Similarly, the sex of the newborns depends on the incubation temperature: below 29°C, the babies will be male, above that, they will be female, and in between, there will be half male and half female. 

 

Hatching and initial care for newborns

For land turtles, the hatching of eggs can take several hours, generally from 1 to 3 days. Babies have a horny tooth at the tip of the beak that allows them to break the shell to get out. During the hatching period, it is unnecessary to help the young turtle out of the egg. Indeed, the young remain inside the shell while the yolk sac (which contains energy reserves) is absorbed. Therefore, there is no need to hasten the hatching. The baby turtle emerges crumpled from its egg. It has a navel on the plastron, a scar that will disappear later. When the young is entirely out, it takes a bath. In captivity, a container with a little warm water should be set up to allow the baby to drink for 3 to 5 minutes. Then, it generally burrows into the ground. In captivity, there are usually two different containers: the incubator and the nursery, integrated 3 days after birth. It is generally at this time that the baby turtle begins to feed. Like its parents, it is herbivorous, but feeds on softer shoots (dandelion, clover...). In captivity, you can cut plants into small pieces to facilitate their task.

All sea turtle eggs hatch at the same time, and the newborns immediately head to the sea, where they start active swimming for several days. After about a week, they become pelagic, meaning they stop actively swimming, allowing themselves to be carried by currents and searching for food. Then, the young become sedentary.



Related articles: 
How to prepare my land turtle for hibernation?
At 187 years old, Jonathan the tortoise is the oldest living animal in the world!
Common diseases in land turtles
DIY Workshop: An outdoor enclosure for my land turtle
When and how does the turtle hibernate?
I want a water turtle!
How to handle my turtle?
What diet for my land turtle?