any way to tell if a female is gravid?

[cjicollectibles]

Man, nowI'm really nervous given your answer, I was sure hoping someone would say thats normal, to go nuts a week, dig a test nest, and then be lazy, lethargic and normal for a few days before getting back to digging. I'm tearin the place apart, but cant imagine when/how she could have laid em with us knowing, but of course, its obviously possible. Yikes

[KQ6AR]

Most of the time, they cover the hole when their done. Sometimes they cover it so well you can't tell there was digging.
Other times they don't cover it at all. Usually when they take several days before laying.
 
The eggs won't be straight down in the hole. There will be a pocket dug out under where her body was. They put the eggs back into this pocket one at a time.
You might want to check the hole. Don't rotate the eggs. Mark the top with a pencil as you remove them one at a time. Lay them in a container with soil so they don't roll.

[cjicollectibles]

Thanks Dan. I already dug the hole up very carefully, deeply and wide, certainly nothing there now. Joe told me he has some torts who go nuts and dig a hole, then act normal for a week, before starting the whole going nuts process all over again. I'm sure hoping this is the case with us. We checked hole at the time, and two days later dug it up big time, nothing.  I shall keep my fingers crossed for a while.

[Jay.j]

Good luck & keep us posted! 

[cjicollectibles]

Thanks Jay. 9 days since she dug the nest hole, but frustratingly, no more crazy behavoir or digging.  I'm still hopefull though, there's really no way we missed the eggs, and she is well watched.

I also noted that the week before she showed the restless behavoir and nest digging, she was trying to eat all kinds of rocks and dirt. She is doing that again yesterday and today. I'm hoping its related, and the next step will be trying a 2nd nest.  She's all kind of sniffing the ground as well.

So, here were are frustrated, but still hopeful.  thanks for asking

[cjicollectibles]

Ok so I've been standing out here 2hrs so far now watching her dig another nest (3weeks later). hoping for results this time!

[cjicollectibles]

We have two eggs!!! Yipee!!!

[Joe H]

congratulations !!

[Eunice]

That's great news.  Good luck.