After mating , the female spends extra time basking to keep her eggs warm . She may also have a change of diet , eating only certain foods , or not eating as much as she normally would . A female can lay between two and 30 eggs depending on body size and other factors . One female can lay up to five clutches in the same year , and clutches are usually spaced 12 to 36 days apart . The time between mating and egg - laying can be days or weeks . The actual egg fertilization takes place during the egg - laying . This process also permits the laying of fertile eggs the following season , as the sperm can remain viable and available in the female 's body in the absence of mating . During the last weeks of gestation , the female spends less time in the water and smells and scratches at the ground , indicating she is searching for a suitable place to lay her eggs . The female excavates a hole , using her hind legs , and lays her eggs in it .

Question: where do red ear slider turtles lay eggs
Answer: a hole