Female red ear slider turtles lay their eggs every year, typically between March and July. They mate in the water, flutter their paws in the air to impress their partner, and then deposit between two and 30 eggs in a nest that she digs in the sand.
In their natural habitats, turtles do not eat their eggs. Instead, they bury them at moderate temperatures so that they are safe from predators. The eggshell protects the embryo from predators, while the yolk nourishes it as it grows.
Red ear slider turtle eggs are white and very small, only about 1-1.5 inches long (2.5-3.8 cm) and 0.75 inches wide (1.9-2.5 cm). They contain an eggshell and a yolk sac. The eggshell protects the embryo, while the yolk sac provides the nutrients needed for hatching.
Turtle eggs are different from chicken eggs because they do not have a hard shell. They are soft with a leather-like feel, and they feel somewhat like a hardboiled egg.
Red-eared sliders don’t incubate their eggs, so they need a safe and secure place to lay their eggs. The best way to do this is by building a nesting box.
To build a nesting box, fill a 25-gallon plastic container with premium top soil and sand. Mist the soil with a little water and gently pour it onto the area. This will help to moisten the substrate, but not soak it up so much that it becomes a clump. Next, cover the 3/4th of the box with a towel so that your turtle feels safe and secure.
