Mississipi map pregnant?

[davecunnah]

We have two mississipi maps, and we thought they were both male, although they were very young when purchased so it was difficult to tell. We have kept them for two years now and they are healthy and well, but we caught them doing the dirty a few weeks ago. We assumed they were just being frisky but now one of them seems to have a slightly swollen area around the base of his (or her) Tail. I do not know if this indicates pregancy but does anbody have any advice on wether it does, and any action I should take if this is the case? Will have to consider renaming if it's a female!

Cheers!

[Graham]

Your sig (0.2.0 Mississippi Map Turtles) suggests that both turts are female rather than male?

If you've witnessed them mating that would suggest that you have at least one of each make, and the female could well be pregnant, of course she could be carrying eggs without having mated anyway.

You can try very gently palpating the area in front of her back legs and you may feel eggs, especially if she's carrying more than a couple they should be quite easy to feel.

You'll need to provide a suitable nesting area otherwise she may just lay them in the water, or worse still retain them which could cause complications. This can be a simple plastic tub filled with damp sand, stood in the tank under the basking lamps so it's warm, turts often favour the base of plants for nesting so you could try adding one or two, fake ones will do.

[davecunnah]

Thanks very much, will try that! Advice is sound as always!