Red Foot

[Ruby Red-Foot]

Hello all....I'm a newbie. Just wondered if anyone has egg laying down to a mad science ? We have an 8 year old and we thought she was a girl. But I haven't seen any eggs - also no male parts exposed; either ??? If you go to my post you can see a pic of her bottom shell....it looks concave to me ?? Would love experienced input....tyia

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Is she housed with a male? Because if not, it’s not a guarantee she’ll lay infertile eggs, it’s a some do, some don’t kinda thing

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I've had lone females lay fertilised eggs, unfertilised eggs and also never lay any eggs.
They reject the science!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I've had lone females lay fertilised eggs, unfertilised eggs and also never lay any eggs.
They reject the science!

You’ve had lone females lay fertilised eggs? What in the hermaphrodite happened there

 

[DoubleD1996!]

You’ve had lone females lay fertilised eggs? What in the hermaphrodite happened there

parthenogenesis. Basically virgin birth. Some reptiles do it. I've mostly seen it in snakes and monitors. I think the babies are always male, but don't quote me on that.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

You’ve had lone females lay fertilised eggs? What in the hermaphrodite happened there

Likely, they use an "old stash" to produce fertilized eggs (sperm can be stored for a long time). It was a common misconception about Achatina snails, for example: they were considered capable of self-fertilization until stricter environment controls proved the opposite.

I haven't heard of parthenogenesis in Chelonians, even the accidental.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

parthenogenesis. Basically virgin birth. Some reptiles do it. I've mostly seen it in snakes and monitors. I think the babies are always male, but don't quote me on that.

I’ve never heard of this in tortoises though

Likely, they use an "old stash" to produce fertilized eggs (sperm can be stored for a long time). It was a common misconception about Achatina snails, for example: they were considered capable of self-fertilization until stricter environment controls proved the opposite.

I haven't heard of parthenogenesis in Chelonians, even the accidental.

Yeah I’ve definitely heard of them storing sperm, I’m curious if that’s actually what happened here or if Ed is saying they were always a lone female, surely not though lol

 

[DoubleD1996!]

I’ve never heard of this in tortoises though

Yeah I’ve definitely heard of them storing sperm, I’m curious if that’s actually what happened here or if Ed is saying they were always a lone female, surely not though lol

It's rare, but possible

 

[ZEROPILOT]

You’ve had lone females lay fertilised eggs? What in the hermaphrodite happened there

Females can carry sperm from males they encountered months ago.
I bought an old female from a breeder that regularly deposited fertilised eggs long after being removed from her situation

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Females can carry sperm from males they encountered months ago.
I bought an old female from a breeder that regularly deposited fertilised eggs long after being removed from her situation

lol guess she was a buy one, get multiple free