smelly tortoise

[EVIEMAY]

I agree with Ali it is always best to try and provide a suitable environment for them to lay naturally - this involves correct temps and a good depth of soil preferably warm.

I did have my leopard scanned for eggs and then gave her 3 weeks before having her xrayed and induced - she had only been with me a couple of months and I was worried she hadn't settled in enough - she definately showed no signs of trying to dig outside.

It is a hard decision and only one you can make - I was worried she would retain them and as she had showed no interest in the indoor nesting site i didn't want to take chance.

[84KB11]

As others have stated, warmth is also important.

I use 250w infrared spot lamps on dimmer stats to heat my Leopard housing at night.
These are the same lamps used for chicken rearing.

Mine came from Countrywide in Gloucester (bulb about £7, posh hanging reflector about £1.

I have them suspended over paving slabs to give bottom heat also.
This also provides a bit of a heat store in case of a bulb faliure or power cut.

My female will quite often, on a cold night, get up and have a little warm on the slab, then go back to bed.

[Denise aka Martini]

I may go to countrywide tomorrow and see what they got there, my tortoises are all inside, my large female who i think maybe pregnant i have made her a new enclosure in the cupboard space under my stairs in the kitchen, know it may sound strange but it works. she has hay the one end and the soil the other end, but only her heat mat at night, so do i still need to use an infra red lamp as well? My house is fairly warm at night...

[EVIEMAY]

Denise - I would pm Terrypin - he has a nesting box for his big girls in his cellar - he will be the best one to advise you.

[84KB11]

My house is cold at night, hence the need for the heat lamp, they do seem to really like it though.

Not had any laying yet from mine, so can only pass on gained knowledge from others, plus my own basic care.
As Eviemay suggested, may be worth contacting the member she gave who has breeding experience, you can not beat first hand advice.

Also, blasted auto convert turned my reflector price into a smilie, should have read eighteen pounds (they are over by the farm medication counter if you do go to countrywide).

Good luck with her, and please post how she gets on.

[fantapants]

Originally Posted by Denise aka Martini

I may go to countrywide tomorrow and see what they got there, my tortoises are all inside, my large female who i think maybe pregnant i have made her a new enclosure in the cupboard space under my stairs in the kitchen, know it may sound strange but it works. she has hay the one end and the soil the other end, but only her heat mat at night, so do i still need to use an infra red lamp as well? My house is fairly warm at night...

doesnt sound odd at all. when i moved in the dead of winter my leos lived quite happily in the area under my stairs until i got their shed ready in spring . but then my biggest girl started laying eggs on the surface of my wooden floor! needless to say, this winter they are in a enclosure thats 8ftx 4ft x 18 inches deep ( alot of compost) with an hour or two daily grazing.

deffo PM terry....he has a wealth of knowledge!

[Denise aka Martini]

Thanks guys for all the advice, its nice to know there are people out there with GOOD advice i pm Terrypin last night so am just waiting to hear back, will his reply show up on here like ours do? Sorry not very computer literate "embarrasing in this day and age" or will i have to go to another thread?

[EVIEMAY]

it will show up in your private messages Denise unless he reads the thread then he may reply to it so others get to read his advice aswell.

[chelbop]

i just wanna thank everybody in this thread, im finding all this very educational....live and learn! xx

[Denise aka Martini]

hi all! well i went to countrywide today, got my limestone flour, also got some more sand for my suspected gravid tortoises nesting area, she doesnt seem that fussed with it to be honest. She wanders around my house and lies in most awkward places. Think she wanted to go out, but today its been raining and really cold all day, so couldnt let her out. I will try and post a piccy of her on here, may have to get my daughters help to do it, im not that great with computers