Digging

[wilkoqpr]

Shelley has started digging recently! She is only 6 inches so can't be eggs although she does live with Sheldon! I was wondering what else might cause the digging

 

[JoesMum]

Females may dig many test pits before they lay... she may be gravid even at six inches.

Is she digging open holes, or just digging herself in?

 

[wilkoqpr]

Thanks for the help - also what does gravid mean?

She seems to dig herself in totally and kind of rest her head against the substrate!

We haven't seen them mate lately so don't expect it to be eggs we have like coconut soil substrate which we changed too from sandy loam about 2 months ago?

 

[JoesMum]

Gravid means she's ready to lay eggs.

Digging in like you describe is natural behavior, usually done to control temperature, usually to stay warm. Some torts just like digging... specially Russians!

Egg-laying holes will be open and the eggs are dropped in from the top before the female back fills on top of the eggs.

 

[wilkoqpr]

Hopefully this doesn't mean the temps aren't hot enough!

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

also what does gravid mean?

Live-bearing animals, like us mammals, are terms "pregnant" when carrying offspring inside. Egg-laying animals like turtles, however, are termed "gravid" when carrying eggs. "Gravid" is Latin for "heavy" (as in "gravity").

 

[GBtortoises]

The key difference between digging is whether it's with the front or rear legs. Digging with the rear legs is nesting related. Digging with the front legs is shelter related/food search related.

It's very doubtful that a six inch long Marginated tortoise is mature enough to breed. a few become mature at just over seven inches, most closer to eight inches and up.

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

^^Good point!

 

[CactusVinnie]

Now, she rather diggs because of heat.
One large Ibera female and a large Boettgeri male were already underground, and most of the Iberas started to digg- their enclosure is sunnier and drier. Well, estivation beginns!