Eggs

[Daisy1]

Hi my 9 year old herman tortoise laid 4 eggs I would guess about a week ago, when I was doing some weeding I came across nest and about week ago she was acting strange stomping about but I didn't think anything of it as she had not been near a male for about year , do you think they would be fertile and also ok if they have been in ground for a week? Thank in advance
Daisy

 

[Cathie G]

Hi my 9 year old herman tortoise laid 4 eggs I would guess about a week ago, when I was doing some weeding I came across nest and about week ago she was acting strange stomping about but I didn't think anything of it as she had not been near a male for about year , do you think they would be fertile and also ok if they have been in ground for a week? Thank in advance
Daisy

Hello and welcome to the TFO. That is a really interesting question...but I'm really not an expert. I have read that box turtles can lay fertilized eggs 3 years after. I'm sure you'll be getting some answers from more knowledgeable people soon but in the meantime I would just keep the nest protected as it is. Not moving the eggs around. Just in case.

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome.

I week in the ground was probably good for them. I leave mine in the ground for a month or more sometimes. Hatch rates go up with this.

Some species can retain sperm for a long time. Others not so much. I don't know about hermanni or any other Testudo species. Sulcatas are only good for a few months and fertility falls off rapidly. I've heard of leopards making fertile eggs 5 years after contact with a male.

Either way, this should help:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-incubate-eggs-and-start-hatchlings.124266/