False Egg Laying

[onarock]

A friend of mine was asking me if any of my females ever dug holes without laying eggs. How many of you have experience with this?

 

[dmmj]

most tortoises will sometimes dig fake holes. I believe they are used to confuse predators.

 

[Yvonne G]

Since this in the "leopard" section, I'll only refer to my leopard tortoises. Yes, they sometimes dig "test" nests. I have heard the same thing about test nests as what dmmj said, but I've also felt that they were actually testing the humidity and quality of the dirt at the nest site.

 

[onarock]

Since this in the "leopard" section, I'll only refer to my leopard tortoises. Yes, they sometimes dig "test" nests. I have heard the same thing about test nests as what dmmj said, but I've also felt that they were actually testing the humidity and quality of the dirt at the nest site.

Yvonne, thanks I have a couple of questions. After this "test nest" in your estimation how long after did they actually lay eggs? Do you have any experience in egg binding with similar "test nest" situations? Did I word that right? My friend said that this female has done this twice in the last 2 weeks. Yes, these are leopards, but other species experience might apply if its not speciese behavior specific.

 

[Yvonne G]

I would find test nests daily for three or four days, then no more. I would then go searching around the pen for disturbed dirt and find the actual nest.

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

I have this happen also with our aldabras. No consistancy and very speratic. I have also had then dig a complete hole and fall alseep. The next morning the tortoise just walks away. I have also had them dig a hole and burry it back with out laying eggs, then walk away.

 

[Neal]

Mine has done that. She dug a full nest and covered it up even, didn't lay any eggs though. The next day she laid eggs in a real nest.