How Many Eggs Does a Water Turtle Lay?

The number of eggs a turtle lays at one time varies by species. Some turtles can lay over 200 eggs at a time. A normal clutch, however, consists of 50 to 160 eggs. The eggs are the size and shape of ping-pong balls with a soft shell.

  1. Leatherback Turtle

    • The largest of the sea turtles, leatherbacks, grow up to 6 feet in length and weigh over 1,400 lbs. Leatherbacks can produce over 700 eggs per season, laying between 60 and 105 eggs per clutch and nesting up to six times in one breeding season.

    Loggerhead Turtle

    • Perhaps the best known of the sea turtles, loggerheads nest in late spring to early summer, laying approximately 110 eggs per clutch. Loggerheads nest up to five times in a season.

    Snapping Turtle

    • Snapping turtles, which may weigh up to 45 pounds, are among the widest ranging fresh water turtles in the United States. They lay up to 40 eggs at a time during fall.

    Red Slider

    • The red slider, which is considered an invasive species in the United States, is a small, aquarium-size turtle kept as a pet in much of the world. The red slider can lay up to 20 eggs and will breed year-round in captivity.