What age will they stop making babies?

[ColleenT]

I am curious if my Three-toeds are too old to make babies? someone told me they looked old bc the shells are somewhat smooth. They have had some damage to the shells, but they could be right. Is there an age that they will not breed or have fertile eggs? Or do they continue to breed their entire lives?

 

[Yvonne G]

I'm not sure about turtles, but I read a while ago that desert tortoises can lay viable eggs all of their lives. Most don't die of old age, but rather from sickness or injury.

 

[ColleenT]

thank you.

 

[Markw84]

My experience is turtles also lay eggs their entire life as long as they are healthy. That is what other long time turtle keepers have said as well

 

[Banjos n Boxies]

Turtles don't experience a menopause like most mammals. It's one of box turtles' key evolutionary advantages. The percentage of their offspring that survive might be small compared to mammals, but if they keep laying eggs for 50, 60 years, they can still leave a replacement population.