AboutMark Adkins Expertise I will be glad to help with your tortoise- and turtle-related questions. My specialty is Red-foot and other Tortoises, but I can help with many aspects of turtle care.
Understand- I am not a vet, and the more information you can give me, the more accurate my answer can be.
(Because of the number of questions I get, I reserve the right to direct you to a good website that will help rather than re-inventing the wheel.)
Experience Tortoise and other reptile keeper since 1964.
Member of the Nebraska Herpetological Society.
Author of books and articles on tortoise care.
Currently own five Red-foot Tortoises.
Expert: Mark Adkins Date: 7/7/2008 Subject: TURTLE LAID EGGS
Question My partner and I have a summer place on Grass Lake In Illinois. We watched her lay eggs....like she did last summer, she laid eggs, but a "creature" dug them up. This year they have been undisturbed for a week. What is the time frame for them to hatch. We believe she is a Painted or Glider turtle. Any thing special we should do, Or just let nature take its course. This has happened for several years, but we never see "babies". Any info you can offer would be beneficial!
Answer The average time is 2-3 months, but it can take from 20-320 days depending on many factors.
You might put some chicken wire or chain-link over the site, but it is generally best to just leave it alone.
You will rarely see the hatch- they usually happen at night, and many of the babies will remain in the nest so they can all come out at once and hide quickly.
