box turtle Q

[brandi]

I have a Western Box turtle (female) which is housed with a male Three-toed Box turtle. Both are rescues and I do not know their ages. Recently the three-toed has mounted the western several times, but I figured since they were different species this was no big deal. Then the female western laid an egg. and another. and a third. Is this possible??? I mean, I know it is because I have the egg sitting here on my desk... I'm pretty sure these eggs are not viable, but has anyone ever heard of a western/three-toe producing eggs like this before? Think I should up the female's calcium supplement?
B~

[Donna]

I've know of a few people who have box turtle hybrids so it's possible your eggs are viable.

As long as your supplimenting on a regular basis (a few times a week) I wouldn't change it unless you think she has some possible health issues from her past.

[JJFeldner]

mounts my female 3-toed all the time. So far, no eggs in two+ years. Of course, when I put my little 1.5 yr old DT in with the boxies, he couldn't wait to get at her. I think he mounts anything female. :Think

[Bill]

I had a male crawl up on round propane tank once...
e-w-w-w-w!
:eek:

[Andyr]

I believe Yes is the answer. Four eggs are the usual number. There mutts, but there cute mutts. All my Boxies lock up all the Time.

Andyr ><>

[zebeck]

This is a subject of some debate among chelonianophiles.

There are definitely cases that have been documented but some people think its very rare. Others think that many of the Missouri locality three toeds are actualy triunguis X ornata.

One well known breeder assures me that when he has kept ornates with easterns and/or three toeds they only internreed if there aren't both genders of each species present. I had the experince that some males mounted everything that they saw (including males and sometimes rocks).
(females also mount each other and males too).

Make sure the humidity is in good raneg and there is a gradient and ass some calcium to the diet. You might get fertile ones yet.

-rob

[brandi]

thanks guys, but i'm trying NOT to get fertile eggs! kinda asked so i could figure out if i need to separate them. they seem to have cooled off now though. thanks everybody!
B~

[Btorgy]

were really going at it a couple weeks ago, though they are only three years old and I believe, sadly, both to be males! My male Horsfieldi will hump anything! But that was early spring. Maybe the cooler nights that we occasionally have inspire them! Good rule of thumb...When in doubt, separate them! It would be desireable, in my opinion, to keep the species pure as possible!
I realize this could start quite a discussion, but don't we have enough of the original species, for the most part, to house and find good homes for, without coming up with a bunch of "mutts"?

[Eevelsmf]

....please do not use the word "hump" on this forum.

It makes me blush!!

Mark V/P :D

[MikeB]

....please do not use the word "hump" on this forum.

It makes me blush!!

Mark V/P :D

Would the appropriate term be shag then? ;)

[brandi]

oh dear.

Tortoises arent the only ones... at the Zoo I have a dove that will molest anything that will hold still long enough, and a roadrunner that has a fetish for shoes.

crazy.

[Eevelsmf]

That...bird..."introduced" itself to me.....several times!!

Shag? Yeah baby!!!

Regards

Mark V/P :D

[brandi]

I think he misses you mark....

[zebeck]

Wow the roadrunner likes shoes?!
what does he DO with them?

Ther are some stories of torts that tried to humpshag a shoe.

[Teguguy]

Uuuuuhhhh....I hope this isn't out of place or anything, but I wouldn't mind being molested by the bird. :loco :Nana :D :ant: