Picture comingBreeding the chicken turtle
Egg layer with an unusual 'winter' nesting pattern: in South Carolina females nest from mid-February to May and again from August to November (in Florida continuously from mid-September to March), usually two clutches a year. Females may hold shelled eggs from autumn to spring.
Step by step
Pair.
Large tank with land.
Winter cooling.
2-19 eggs per clutch, usually two clutches a year (fewer eggs in the second); incubation about 78-89 days in Florida.
Hatchlings are fully independent: house them in shallow warm water with a basking spot and feed small pellets, worms and daphnia daily.
- Undersized tank and weak filtration
- No UV or basking heat (soft shells, poor growth)
- Releasing unwanted turtles into the wild
Male or female
Females are larger; males have long thick tails with the vent beyond the shell rim.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Good for a first breeding project.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for frogs, newts and turtles
- Day 0Eggs
Needs a special setup. Read the species guide first.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Needs a special setup. Read the species guide first.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- Without live or frozen food the parents aren't in breeding condition.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.