How do turtles reproduce in nature and at home?

08/20/2020 Scientist cat Animals

The question of how turtles mate is of interest to many people. After all, even those who keep these animals as pets do not always know how to determine the sex of the reptile. What can we say about mating!

Determination of gender

To ensure reptiles reproduce at home, it is necessary to find out which sex each turtle belongs to. Obviously, the offspring is the result of the mating of a male and a female.

This is interesting: A female reptile can lay eggs without the participation of a male, but storing them will not give any results, since fertilization in this case was not carried out.

Sexual dimorphism in red-eared turtles appears at one year of age. For comparison, it is recommended to take reptiles of the same age. The distinction between individuals is carried out according to the following criteria:

body size (females are larger);
claws on the front paws (in males they are longer);
tail (longer in males than in females);
the shape of the lower part of the shell (in females it is flat, in boys it is concave).

Breeding sea turtles

In nature, sea turtles begin to reproduce only in the area where they were born. Sometimes, to do this, females have to swim vast distances underwater, but not a single turtle has yet strayed from the charted course. These animals' navigational abilities still amaze scientists.

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The egg laying process itself occurs at night. The female goes ashore, makes sure that she is not in danger, and slowly heads up the shore, where the tide line does not reach. Having found a suitable place for a nest, she digs a hole with her front paws until the upper edge of her shell is at ground level.

Scientists have proven that females hatched in a certain area always return there upon reaching sexual maturity to lay eggs in turn. This feature is used by hunters for sea turtle eggs and meat.

After 65–70 days, the eggs hatch into babies. Small turtles need to be transplanted into a separate terrarium and cared for in the same way as freshwater ones.

Many owners of land turtles wonder: can their pets breed in captivity? Until relatively recently, obtaining offspring from these exotic animals was considered almost a feat. Very little was known about the care of small turtles. Even those owners whose pets had offspring experienced significant difficulties in preserving and further raising young animals.

Fortunately, the situation has now changed, and various species of turtles often breed at home.

Conditions for mating

Reproduction of the red-eared turtle is possible subject to the optimal age for mating - individuals must be young, but at the same time have reached sexual maturity. The readiness of females to reproduce is observed at the age of five, males begin to give birth to offspring in the fifth year of life. If you keep more than two turtles at the same time, it is advisable that there is only one male among them, otherwise the males will fight for the opportunity to mate, causing injury to each other.

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Turtle Reproduction: Compatible Pairs

The first thing to remember is that only turtles of the same species can interbreed. In many cases, unlucky breeders simply cannot find compatible pairs. Let us repeat, different species should never be crossed. But following this rule is not enough for complete success: many more factors need to be taken into account.

It is not enough for the male and female to belong to the same species (for example, Geochelone elegans). It is clear that numerous genetic variations are possible within this species, and the more similar the animals are in appearance, the greater the likelihood of their genetic similarity. Not only must both turtles be identical in appearance, but they must also come from the same geographic area. There is no doubt that animals that are genetically similar to each other can be propagated most successfully. This applies to all types of turtles.

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Preparation

Getting red-eared turtles to breed in captivity is quite a difficult task. To achieve the desired result, you first need to take care of your pets’ diet. Reptile food should include vitamins and nutrients. Vitamin E is especially useful for males, as it has a positive effect on the reproductive function of animals. Calcium and phosphorus are useful for the normal course of pregnancy in females.

Before the intended mating, two turtles need to be placed in different aquariums. To create a suitable environment, it is recommended to change the water and heat it to 25 ° C. It happens that during the mating process, the male does not allow the female to come to the surface for a long time. To prevent the reptile from suffocating, the water level in the aquarium should not exceed 10 centimeters. A container with sand must be placed inside the vessel, where the female will lay eggs.

It should be located in a dry area that is easily accessible to the turtle. Please note that mating will only occur if there is soil in the aquarium. A sign indicating that the female is ready to reproduce is the reptile displaying high activity, as well as its refusal to eat.

Red-eared turtles mating

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Breeding red-eared turtles
Red-eared turtles mating

Date: 15 May 2010

Category: Breeding red-eared turtles

Comments: 1 comment

Males have a “ dent ” on their plastron, which helps them perform their mating duties. Their tail is long and thick at the base (the penis, the organ of copulation, is located here). The males have long claws on their front paws. In addition, males are much smaller than females. Two males occupying the same territory can conflict with each other, so it is better to have only one for a group of several females.

Red-eared mate all year round, but more often from February to May.

Mating is stimulated by changing the water and increasing its temperature.

Mating is preceded by a very funny courtship of the male. He swims in front of his chosen one, tail first, tickling her cheeks with his long claws. At the same time, the front paws vibrate finely and finely. Males may also hit the females' shells with the leading edge of their shells. This behavior can be observed very often, even in immature males. If the female is ready to reproduce, then she allows the male to approach her. Animals mate, as already mentioned, in water. The duration of the act is at least 5 minutes, usually it lasts about 15. One fertilization is enough to produce 4-5 clutches. Sperm can remain in the female's genital tract for up to two years.

For mating, some experts recommend using a separate aquarium with a capacity of 100-130 liters, filled with warm, settled water. The depth of the reservoir should not exceed 12 cm. This is due to the fact that during mating the male can get so carried away that he will not give the female the opportunity to float to the surface of the water and breathe. If mating does not occur, the turtles should be seated for a couple of days and try to pair again.

Layed eggs must be transferred to the incubator as soon as possible, without changing their original position. The incubation temperature is in the range of 21–30 °C. The development time of the embryo depends on temperature and lasts from two to five months.

In order for turtles to begin to reproduce, there must be several healthy adult males and females in one fenced area (large terrarium or outdoor enclosure), at suitable temperature and humidity. Turtles mate all year round, but only when they are full and warm. Males prefer larger females. To stimulate activity, it is worth temporarily seating females and males for several weeks. It is better to place males with females, and not vice versa, so that the males are less aggressive.

a pregnant female from the male, since during the mating period males can be aggressive and can harm even an already pregnant female. Before laying, the female becomes restless, eats poorly, and fences off her territory. The female lays her eggs in a hole in the ground or sand, which she previously moistens with liquid from the cloacal vesicles. Transfer the laid eggs to the incubator as quickly as possible. In this case, the eggs should not be turned over, and water should not get on them.

If you only have one female and she laid eggs, then they are unfertilized (fatty). Nothing will ever hatch from such eggs. You can check whether an egg is fatty or fertilized like this: for the first 1-12 (24) hours - the egg, when exposed to light, is homogeneous and has a dark spot approximately in the center (fertilized), if it is just homogeneous, or partly dark, partly light - fatty. After 2-3 months, the embryo will be visible in the fertilized egg.

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How do turtles mate?

Large and beautiful terrarium for turtles
Home maintenance does not imply that the breeding season depends on the changing seasons of the year, so reptiles can mate at any time. According to general observations, turtles are most active from February to May. Thus, the process of mating pets is best carried out at this time.

Until the moment of copulation, reptiles engage in mating games, which can last for several days in a row. During this period, the most important thing is to create the most comfortable conditions for the animals, ensuring them complete peace. Reptiles should not be disturbed by extraneous noise, vibration or bright light. Also, you should not pick up your pets during this time.

The process of mating games is that the male touches the female’s head with his claws and brings his shell into contact with the female’s plastron. The copulation time of reptiles is no more than five minutes. Then eggs are laid.

Caring for eggs and young

In one clutch the female leaves from 6 to 10 eggs. The diameter of each is 4 cm. The container in which the masonry is located is emptied. The eggs are very carefully transferred to the incubator without turning them over. The temperature in it should be in the region of 25-30 oC. Instead of an incubator, you can use a regular jar of sand, which should be placed next to the heating system to create optimal temperature conditions.