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| Reproduction | |
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| Topic Started: Nov 13 2006, 01:33 PM (661 Views) | |
| Post #1 Nov 13 2006, 01:33 PM | BUUZBEE |
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Reproduction In the wild, reproduction occurs most often right after the rainy season – September through November – but can occur anytime from June through March. Males typically become very vocal during mating. As the eggs are developing inside the female, her appetite will decrease. She will become restless as she begins to roam looking for a suitable nesting site. She may excavate several nests before she selects one. The female will dig a large nest, approximately two feet in diameter and several inches deep and deposit a clutch of eggs, 15-30 or more. Tortoises in warmer climates that are kept outdoors for most of the year may have two clutches. After all the eggs are laid, the female will fill in the nest, covering the eggs with the soil and sand that was excavated. The eggs incubate for about eight months. Hatchlings will emerge from the nest and will be 1½-2 inches in carapace length and weigh less than one ounce. They are aggressive and active, ramming into almost anything kept in their enclosure. Hatchlings may be kept indoors in a dry aquarium or vivarium. The substrate should be edible, such as alfalfa hay. (Alfalfa is not appropriate for adults.) The enclosure should be kept no cooler than 72°F with a basking area of 95-110°F. 10-12 hours per day of UVB lighting is necessary for healthy growth. Hatchlings may not start eating right away. Food should be offered daily until they start to feed, then every other day after they begin eating. They tend to like darker greens such as alfalfa, kale, dandelion, collards, and grasses. Multivitamins and a calcium supplement may be added to their food. Hatchlings kept outdoors should be provided the same housing requirements as adults. Sulcatas grow rapidly and will reach their full adult size within 15-20 years. |
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| Post #2 Jan 20 2009, 11:19 AM | mrs1885 |
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I've got a male and female sulcata that I brought home from a rescue. There are way too many of them in rescues so we decided we didn't want to breed. I talked to my herp vet about spaying my female but he said it's not something he would do, and referred me to the local University and said they will. However, he said it's easier to either seperate them or just destroy the eggs when they hatch. Seperating them wasn't an option as they are quite bonded. They are always together in the yard and seem happy that way. So we've opted to just destroy the eggs. They began mating in early October. They continued to mate several times a week, sometimes several times in a day through December. By this time I'd brought them indoors to their winter pens because of the temps. I found the male was just tormenting the female and no matter what she did she couldn't escape him because they were confined. Fearing that she'd just about had enough I did seperate them. So, they've now been apart for about a month. However, I'm not sure how long it takes before she'll start laying eggs. I don't want her to become egg bound. Anyone know, or is it one of those she lays when she's ready things? Also, should I take her to the herp vet and have her x-rayed so I at least know how many eggs to watch for? |
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| Post #3 Jan 20 2009, 04:07 PM | BUUZBEE |
I'm not really any help on this one... as i dont have any hands on experience with breeding... I'd say thats one to ask your herp vet 
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| Post #4 Jun 25 2009, 08:49 PM | Utah sulcatas |
| I don't think you need to worry about her getting egg bound if they are breeding. She will take of it. just make sure mshe gets enough water. |
Just Hatched
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5:54 AM Nov 26
