A typical clutch from a wild female is 4-8 eggs, but pet tortoises tend to grow larger and may lay 12 or more. Usual is 6-10. Eggs are hard-shelled, slightly oblong, dull white, and almost the size of ping-pong balls. After laying, the female carefully covers eggs using her hind legs.

Do tortoises lay eggs without mating?

Can tortoises and turtles lay eggs without mating? Yes, they can. In fact, just like a chicken or a duck does – if a female tortoise doesn't find a mate and get fertilized, her eggs will appear anyway. However, a tortoise will only lay once in a year, so don't expect to see a steady supply of tortoise eggs appearing.

How long is a tortoise pregnant?

Depending on the season, incubation takes 90 to 200 days. Hatchlings weigh 8 to 12 g and emerge after the first autumn rains. In ideal conditions, female angulate tortoises can produce six clutches of eggs per year.