when do red ear slider turtles lay eggs
Red-eared slider After mating, the female spends extra time basking to keep her eggs warm.[30] She may also have a change of diet, eating only certain foods, or not eating as much as she normally would. A female can lay between two and 30 eggs depending on body size and other factors.[18] One female can lay up to five clutches in the same year, and clutches are usually spaced 12 to 36 days apart.[31] The time between mating and egg-laying can be days or weeks. The actual egg fertilization takes place during the egg-laying. This process also permits the laying of fertile eggs the following season, as the sperm can remain viable and available in the female's body in the absence of mating. During the last weeks of gestation, the female spends less time in the water and smells and scratches at the ground, indicating she is searching for a suitable place to lay her eggs. The female excavates a hole, using her hind legs, and lays her eggs in it.[32]
Red-eared slider Courtship and mating activities for red-eared sliders usually occur between March and July, and take place under water. During courtship, the male swims around the female and flutters or vibrates the back side of his long claws on and around her face and head, possibly to direct pheromones towards her.[29] The female swims toward the male and, if she is receptive, sinks to the bottom for mating. If the female is not receptive, she may become aggressive towards the male. Courtship can last 45 minutes, but mating takes only 10 minutes.[25]
My Ántonia
Painted turtle Incubation lasts 72–80 days in the wild[45] and for a similar period in artificial conditions.[49] In August and September, the young turtle breaks out from its egg, using a special projection of its jaw called the egg tooth.[53] Not all offspring leave the nest immediately, though.[45] Hatchlings north of a line from Nebraska to northern Illinois to New Jersey[54] typically arrange themselves symmetrically[55] in the nest and overwinter to emerge the following spring.[45]