Red-eared sliders are fun-loving reptiles that make excellent pets. Many owners want to breed them at home, but this does not always work out. In many ways, the reason lies in the fact that such people do not have the necessary knowledge.

Turtles, like many other animals, have learned to survive well not only in the wild, but also in captivity, where, as a rule, they are provided with all the necessary conditions for a comfortable existence. Reproduction in these reptiles is carried out by oviposition. In this case, the female can mate throughout the whole year.

It is noteworthy that the participation of the male in laying eggs is not mandatory. But there will be no offspring, since in this case there will be no fertilization. That is, the female can lay eggs on her own, but this will not give any expected result.

The age of the reptile is of great importance. Sexually mature individuals, but not old ones, are the best option for home breeding. The traditional slowness of turtles is manifested in everything, including the fact that they take a very long time to mature. Therefore, it will take some time until the turtle is able to lay fertilized eggs.

Turtles, like many other animals, have learned to survive well not only in the wild, but also in captivity

Of course, there is always a risk of acquiring two people of the same sex. It is clear that in this case there can be no question of any reproduction. It should be noted that it will be possible to find out the gender of a red-eared turtle only after it is at least a year old. There is no need to try to examine the genitals of a reptile - it makes no sense. The sex of an animal can be determined by a number of external signs:

• females are usually larger in size than males;
• in females the shape of the shell in the lower part is flat, while in males there is a characteristic arch;
• boys have longer claws than females;
• the same applies to the tail - it is longer in males.

Reproduction of reptiles is a rather labor-intensive and time-consuming process. Especially if you decide to do it without having the required amount of knowledge and experience. The most important thing here is patience and the desire to learn.

On the loose

Like any other animal, not just reptiles, red-eared turtles feel best when free. Simply because this is their natural habitat. Accordingly, there is nothing strange in the fact that normal reproduction is relevant only for natural living conditions.

Red-eared turtles do best when free

When free, turtles feel comfortable. This does not apply to the fact that they are safe or that they always have food and water, which is relevant for home living, no. The point is different - the instincts of the animal are at work here, which, in essence, determine their behavior and attitude towards the environment.

Captive

As for bondage, the situation here is radically different. Despite the fact that in captivity, from a human point of view, the turtle has all the conditions for a normal life, it still does not show any particular zeal for reproduction.

Moreover, the appearance of offspring in turtles that live in a terrarium is rare.

Learning to breed them at home requires patience and the appropriate desire. You will have to be patient, as it is unlikely that everything will work out the first time. The thing is that in captivity, turtles, like all other animals, have their basic instincts dulled. The turtle simply loses interest in reproduction, because it “believes” that it does not make any sense in the existing living conditions.

In order for the red-eared turtles living in your house to begin to reproduce, it is necessary to create all the necessary conditions for them:

The most interesting thing during this period is the mating games. A number of dubious experts recommend placing only one female and one male in a terrarium. This, supposedly, will avoid traumatizing the boys, who will begin to fight among themselves for the right to the “first night” with the lady. But this is not entirely true.

The best option is one female and two males. Fighting between males is normal, it is part of mating games. This is something that can and should interest a female. Moreover, such battles extremely rarely end in severe or even slight damage to turtles. Simply because it all happens extremely slowly. It is noteworthy that the female does not always choose the strongest male. The defeated groom can also become her chosen one.

Mating usually occurs in mid-spring. Offspring can be expected in about a year. During this period, it is necessary to provide the reptiles with optimal conditions. There is no need to tug on them too often, distract them, or pick them up. Make sure that they are not frightened by extraneous sounds.

The optimal option for reproduction is one female and two males

It is also very important to ensure a comfortable temperature inside the terrarium. In freedom, mating games begin when the air warms up to about +25 degrees. This is exactly what should be in the terrarium.

Freshwater turtles bury their eggs in the coastal sand. Land dwellers make a hole in a secluded place. You need to create such holes yourself, and first place a small container there. This will help you move the eggs from the terrarium to the incubator without any problems in the future. The temperature in the incubator should be approximately 28-30 degrees Celsius.

Peculiarities of reptile behavior before and after oviposition

It can hardly be said that red-eared turtles are good parents. Males tend to “disappear” immediately after mating. That is, they lose all interest in the recent object of desire, not to mention future offspring. Moreover, even females after laying eggs do not demonstrate any maternal instincts. Moreover, this applies to all types of reptiles, including even.

In other words, the little turtles, which are born two to three months after laying eggs, are left to their own devices. From this time on, they are ready to eat and can lead a lifestyle that will allow them to survive in new conditions.

As for females, after laying eggs they must be temporarily kept separate from other animals. The fact is that their immunity is significantly weakened. Contact with other animals can cause infection with various diseases. Be sure to provide such a turtle with increased nutrition. It should be balanced and rich in healthy vitamins and microelements.

Adults will not take care of small offspring in any way. Accordingly, under no circumstances should they all be placed in one terrarium, since large turtles can harm small ones. We need to wait until they grow up. Although keeping a large colony of red-eared turtles in one terrarium is also not a good solution. So if you are going to breed it, it is preferable for subsequent sale.

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!

Brief description of the order of turtles

These animals belong to the order of reptiles. They live in captivity up to 50 years. But in the natural environment they can exist about twice as many. Although there are legends that there are individuals that have reached 350 years or more. But only the lifespan of the Madagascan radiant tortoise Tui Malila is documented - 188 years. Today she is considered a long-living winner.

A distinctive feature of all types of turtles is the presence of a shell. Perhaps, thanks to him, they managed to survive, despite various disasters that occurred on our planet. After all, these creatures are very ancient.

Mating games

Turtles are no strangers to demonstrative displays of affection. Males become very active during the mating season. Many people make the mistake of considering turtles to be silent creatures. After all, males, when courting their darlings, often make sounds similar to yapping. And females have the right to express their opinion with their voice.

Usually males challenge rivals to fights. And during the period of “fighting”, weak animals can be injured and die. So it would be a huge mistake to consider turtles as calm and good-natured animals.

The male is not so loyal to his chosen one either. Seeing a female, it begins to shake its head up and down. But he does not intend to wait for her to reciprocate her feelings. Having performed a ritual dance of recognition, the male runs to the turtle and hits it hard with his head in the shell. In addition, he bites the reptile's paws until it is eventually subdued.

Mating process in nature

First of all, it should be clarified that the genital organs of turtles are located in the tail. Therefore, the male approaches the chosen one from behind and crawls onto her back with the front part of his body. He adapts his tail under hers, directing the sexual organ to the right place.

At the end of the action, the male emits a “victory cry”. And let only his chosen one hear it, but this is the song of a winner who has achieved his goal. The female also responds to him with a “yelp.” This is how turtles mate in nature.

Mating of land turtles in captivity

This species of reptile reproduces both in nature and in captivity. Since land turtles mate in natural conditions only when they have to fight for the female, there must be at least two males in captivity in order to determine the winner in a battle. Otherwise, interest in the female will simply be lost.

Determining the sex of a reptile can be difficult. But upon careful examination and comparison of different-sex individuals, it is clear that there are still differences. For example, the claws on the limbs of males are longer and harder than those of females. The ventral side of the “guy’s” shell is concave, and the femoral spurs are massive. The tail is longer, rounded and wider at the base, because it contains the genitals. The shell covers it with itself.

When the competitor is defeated, the time for the mating ritual begins. The male tries to show himself in all his glory to the female. He catches up with his chosen one, stretches out his paws and tail, and shakes his head. Then the male tries to crush the turtle under him. And sometimes a particularly zealous suitor does this with such force that it can damage the shell. This is why experts advise placing the “groom” with the “bride” rather than keeping them together: “when visiting” the male is less decisive and aggression is not as pronounced as in his own territory.

Mating process in red-eared turtles

This is a freshwater animal. Red-eared turtles live in nature in dirty, swampy reservoirs and ponds. Moreover, males are smaller than females.

There are two answers to the question at what age they mate. Readiness for the mating season of individuals of both sexes in nature is achieved by six years. But at home, females mature at five years old. Males become sexually mature by their fourth birthday.

Reproduction under natural conditions lasts throughout the spring, starting at the end of February. Directly in the water, the “groom” places himself in front of the “bride’s” head, and they swim in parallel. Only he periodically makes a backward movement, touching the chin of the individual he likes with his claws. To lay eggs, the female chooses dry land, where she digs a nest.

How do red-eared turtles mate in captivity? They also do this in the water.

For the breeding process you need to have several females. They only need one male. During marriage, the future daddy becomes very active. With his shell he touches the back of the selected turtle and tickles it with his paws.

The chosen one and the hero are placed in a separate vessel. The act lasts for a quarter of an hour. Comfortable water temperature is +25 degrees. It should be poured no higher than 12 centimeters, since the “bride” will need to breathe.

Then both are returned to the common aquarium. After some time, the male begins to court another female, and the process is repeated.

This is how land turtles and red-eared turtles mate.

Turtles breed in captivity quite rarely. Breeding turtles is a painstaking and responsible work that only experienced specialists can do.

In order for turtles kept at home to begin to reproduce, they need to be provided with the proper conditions: proper nutrition, suitable habitat and relative freedom of movement.

For successful reproduction, in addition to observing all conditions of detention, it is advisable to place several individuals of the same species in one pen or terrarium. When forming a group, the correct ratio of the number of females and males is important, which contributes to the manifestation of elements of mating behavior in these animals. In freshwater turtles this ratio is approximately 2:1.

Only with proper maintenance can red-eared turtles produce offspring in captivity.

In addition, when choosing animals, you need to take into account their age - you should select sexually mature, but not old individuals, which should first be checked by a veterinarian. The most suitable age for mating of red-eared turtles is 5 years. Despite the fact that they reach puberty a little earlier, fertilization may not occur in very young individuals. Sick or weakened animals will also most likely not produce offspring.

You can distinguish the sex of red-eared turtles by the length of their tail (the male has a longer tail). In addition, the male has a depression on the plastron.

A group of selected turtles must be carefully observed for some time to determine how ready they are for mating and reproduction. If relationships have been established between individuals of different sexes, the remaining turtles need to be moved to another place.

Typically, hobbyists who breed red-eared turtles in captivity keep males and females separately and place them next to each other exclusively for the mating period. In this case, it is best to leave the male in his usual territory, and place the female with him.

It is interesting to watch the mating games of turtles both in natural conditions and at home. During the breeding season, water turtles often show a completely different side to themselves than in normal life. Thus, males often fight among themselves, seeking the favor of the female they have chosen.

Only healthy turtles that have reached sexual maturity can produce offspring.

If you want your turtle to give birth, include foods containing vitamin E in its diet. It has a beneficial effect on reproductive function.

Turtles, like other reptiles, after building a nest and laying eggs, do not care at all about their offspring, and small turtles emerge completely ready for independent life.

When preparing for breeding, it is important to properly prepare the turtles’ diet. Many experts recommend adding foods containing vitamin E (greens, vegetable oil) to animal feed. Vitamin preparations are also suitable.

During pregnancy, turtles' diets must contain foods high in calcium and phosphorus.

During the breeding season, red-eared turtles need to create comfortable conditions: do not disturb them, exclude all extraneous noise and vibration, try to touch the animals as little as possible. In addition, it is necessary to take care in advance of the place where the eggs will be located. Red-eared turtles dig a nest in the ground, so you need to place a small container filled with clean sand or peat in the terrarium in advance (it should be poured in a layer of about 5 cm). Females can also lay eggs directly on a piece of land arranged in a terrarium, and sometimes in water. In the latter case, it is recommended to immediately remove the masonry from the water.

Turtle lays eggs

For freshwater turtles to begin mating, the water temperature in the terrarium or aquarium must be 22–26 °C. Increasing the length of daylight hours and lighting intensity also helps stimulate mating.

After the female lays eggs, it is recommended to remove the container with them and place them in an incubator. The incubator temperature should be maintained at 28–30 °C.

If you don't have an incubator, you can use a regular glass jar or an aquarium filled with sand, which should be moistened regularly. This incubator can be heated using a regular incandescent lamp. You can place the incubator next to the central heating radiator.

Turtle eggs, unlike bird eggs, should never be turned over, so they should be transferred to the incubator very carefully.

Baby turtle emerges from egg

Eggs laid by turtles are not always fertilized. In order not to keep empty eggs in the incubator for several months, they need to be checked. To do this, you can build a primitive ovoscope: place a small electric light bulb, perhaps from a flashlight, in a small cardboard box, and cover the box with a lid in which a hole has been cut in the shape of an egg, but slightly smaller. To check the egg, you need to place it, without turning it over, on the hole and turn on the light bulb. There will be a noticeable darkening in the middle of the fertilized egg, while the empty one will transmit light evenly. When checking, you should remember that the longer the eggs mature, the more accurate the result will be.

Newborn baby turtles, like other reptiles, have remnants of the yolk sac, which disappear a few days after birth, as well as a special egg tooth, which they use to cut the shell. In addition, in the first days after hatching from the eggs, turtles can see a transverse fold on the plastron - a consequence of the bent position of the baby inside the egg.

After the female lays her eggs, she should be kept separate from other animals for some time. The female's nutrition for several weeks should be enhanced, since during this period the turtles' immunity is weakened and they are more susceptible to various diseases.

If a turtle has babies, you need to try to save them all. Under no circumstances should they be placed in the same pen or terrarium with adult turtles, as these reptiles do not have maternal instincts and can harm the young. It is best to prepare a small separate terrarium, specially equipped for their maintenance.

Small turtles require special care.

Small turtles eat almost the same as adult turtles, with the exception of plant foods. Both special ready-made food and finely chopped raw fish or pieces of seafood are suitable for them.

For normal development, red-eared turtle cubs need ultraviolet radiation. The irradiation time should be increased gradually, starting from 1–2 minutes, and lamps with soft radiation should be used for procedures.

How do turtles reproduce?

Every person has their own hobbies. Some people like to work with flowers, some like to raise rabbits, and some like to breed exotic animals. Let's look at how turtles reproduce in this article. It should be noted that red-eared turtles are bred quite infrequently. It makes the most sense to take a turtle that has been bred in captivity. To do this, you should seek help from an experienced terrarist or a pet store.

How do red-eared turtles reproduce?

In the process of raising turtles, mating is a very important point. But it is much more important to properly produce small and fragile offspring.

1. It is important to know the fact that there are “precocious” species of turtles, including red-eared turtles. Reproduction in this species is possible at the age of about three years.
2. Mating becomes possible from February to May. Typically, red-eared turtles breed in water, but it is also possible on land. When meeting, the male positions himself in front of the female’s muzzle, and she tries to swim forward. But the male swims back to her again and tickles his lady’s chin with his claws.
3. In order to lay eggs, the female comes out onto land and, having previously moistened the ground with water from the anal bladders, pulls out the nest with her hind legs. She will subsequently lay eggs in it.
4. On average, the eggs of red-eared turtles are no more than four centimeters in diameter. There are about six to ten of them in a nest. After the female has buried her eggs in the ground, she leaves and never comes to them again. And, after about one hundred thirty or one hundred fifty days, small turtles are born.
5. If you decide to breed turtles at home, then you need to create certain conditions for this: proper nutrition, a good place to live, a large place to move.
6. It is important to take into account the fact that during the period when red-eared turtles reproduce, they need rest. This also applies to extraneous sounds and vibrations. They should also not be picked up or touched.
7. Any container filled with peat or sand is perfect as a place for laying eggs. Of course, it must be shallow so that the turtle can climb into it freely.
8. As for the water temperature in a terrarium or aquarium, it should be from twenty-two to twenty-six degrees.
9. After you have seen that the female has laid eggs, the container with sand is placed in the incubator. But there the temperature should fluctuate from twenty-eight to thirty degrees. A glass jar placed in a warm place and filled with wet sand can serve as an incubator.
10. Cubs should be placed in a separate terrarium. Because adults can injure them.
11. As for feeding, newborn turtles prefer a variety of animal foods. For example, daphnia, bloodworms, gammarus, koretra, as well as plant soft foods. They should be fed in moderation, without overfeeding.

Now you know how turtles reproduce. A video on this interesting topic will be just as instructive. Remember that if you decide to breed turtles, you have taken on certain obligations, so be extremely careful and careful with these fragile animals.

The red-eared (aka yellow-bellied) turtle is one of the most popular pets. Many owners of these wonderful reptiles are thinking about breeding them. The reasons for this are very different: someone wants to increase the number of pets without buying them, but by raising them themselves from birth to adulthood.

Some are thinking about starting to sell grown turtles, others plan to give them to friends and acquaintances. The motives can be very different, but people often make the same mistakes. To avoid them, you need to know a few key things (this is the bare minimum):

1. What conditions should be created for the breeding of turtles?
2. How to determine their gender
3. How do turtles mate in captivity?
4. What to do with eggs. Egg incubator.
5. How to care for newborn turtles and what to feed them.

If man decided to breed turtles, we can assume that he already knows the basic things: how to arrange an aquaterrarium, what to feed the pets, how often to change the water, etc. If anyone still has doubts about how properly organized the “living space” is for their favorite reptiles, and If you don’t want to re-read a huge amount of material, it’s easy to find short but informative videos on the Internet about how everything should be arranged.

It is important to understand that the conditions necessary for turtles to survive and grow may not be sufficient for them to reproduce. What do you need to consider to make everything work?

Necessary nuances

Males reach puberty earlier approximately in the fifth year of life, while in females in the sixth year. Many people either don’t know this difference or forget about it. Naturally, in this case nothing happens.

If there are several turtles, it is better when for several females there is one male. This will help avoid conflicts between “boys” and possible injuries. You can understand what sex a reptile is no earlier than it is one year old. Males are smaller in size, but have larger claws and tails. The lower part of the shell also helps to understand the gender - in boys it has a very noticeable “dent”.

For mating It is recommended to place the female and male in a separate aquarium. It must be filled with clean, settled water. Temperature is extremely important - it should be warmer than the water in the “main” aquaterrarium. The fact is that a change in water and an increase in its temperature are an important additional incentive for red-eared turtles to mate.

In order for turtles to mate, they need water., but at the same time the male can get carried away and not allow the female to surface. Therefore, the depth in this “special” aquarium should be small, about 10–12 centimeters.

Before mating interesting “marriage games” take place: The male swims close to the female, periodically tickling her face with his claws and hitting her shell with the front edge of his shell. On YOUTUBE you can find a video of exactly how the “flirting” of red-eared turtles occurs.

The duration of sexual intercourse is on average 7–15 minutes. If, after “relocating” to a separate aquarium, the reptiles do not pay attention to each other, then they need to be resettled for a couple of days.

It is better to separate a pregnant female from the male, as he may involuntarily injure her.

Care of masonry and newborns

Red-eared turtles lay eggs in sand or soil. It is better not to leave the clutch unattended: leaving everything as is, it is more difficult to control development and increases the risk of losing all the eggs. They may be accidentally damaged by the turtles themselves, or mold may develop on the eggs.

It is best to transfer the eggs to an incubator.. This must be done extremely carefully, trying not only not to damage, but not even to turn them. Some experts advise marking the top surface of the eggs with a marker, which makes it easier to control their position.

The temperature in the incubator is set between 21–30 degrees. Changes are unacceptable, so I did not want to place the incubator in a place that would not allow:

• exposure to direct sunlight
• drafts

Development of the embryo lasts from two months to six months. After the babies hatch, they must be “separated” from the adult turtles. If it is not possible to place them in a separate aquaterrarium, you need to at least fence off a separate area for them inside the main one. In order for the “young animals” to grow and develop normally, it is necessary to periodically allow them to “warm up” under the rays of UV lamps.

The ideal food for newborn red-eared turtles is raw, lean fish. To ensure that the food is balanced, it is worth periodically feeding the babies with special food for newborn turtles.

Summary

Without following these rules it will be impossible to get offspring from these wonderful reptiles. It is important to understand that, like any other animal, red-eared turtles reproduce less well in captivity than in the wild. To succeed, you will have to put in a lot of effort and create the most comfortable conditions for the turtles.