had 2 tortoises since 1982 last year my female tortoise laid 6 eggs and again this |June. They were not fertile.For the last week she has been scratting with her rear claws and appears to be agitated and roughing up the grass enclosure.

The rear part of her "undercarriage" is flexible and I thought she was about to lay more eggs. Worried as this has been going on a week and she is not eating just rushing round in an agitated manner.

Hi there,

It does sound like she's getting ready to lay again. If shes struggling to find a suitable site you could prepare one for her. Dig over a patch of ground in a sunny location so the soil is loose for her to dig. If theres no sun about she might delay laying. You could try a nesting box indoors under a heat lamp. Big box of soil with the lamp warming it. I had a tortoise lay in a plastic dog basket filled with summer in the spring, easy for the tortoise to get in and out of and deep enough for the nest. Some people say that dampening a potential nesting spot with warm water has also encouraged tortoises to lay. Its all about giving them the ideal site. Good luck, hope she lays but dont worry yet of she doesnt straight away.

"filled with summer"! Sorry, predictive text on my phone!

Should have read "filled with soil"

Though the tortoise felt in was filled with summer enough to lay eggs in it :)