My 11" RES just laid three eggs in her tank. She hasn't been with a male since I adopted her in december, is it possible that she just laid infertile eggs? She dropped them in the water (I was there and was able tp pull them out immediately) and they are now incubating. Is it possible she held the eggs for 5 months? I've never bred before, so if you have any tips on egg care please post them. Also, if anybody could recommend a vet for me? I live in Lewiston. Thanks!

Update: She layed 5 more last night, an the sandy area of the tank i just put in after the first eggs came out.

Laying infertile clutches is common with captive turtles, and especially RES. For incubation, setting them up on a damp substrate in the 78-82F range should work, though I doubt they're fertile. Sperm retention is well documented in RES, so it's not impossible to get viable hatchlings. You might want to try shining a small flashlight through the eggs to look for veins. This will tell you if the eggs are fertile or not.

Thanks for the help! I have checked them with a flashlight, and it looks like there are babies inside. I have 8 apparently healthy eggs.