Is it possible for a tortoise to have a phantom pregnancy? The tortoise is around 38 years old and we've never known it to attempt to dig a nest as it is doing now.
It lived with my Nan for the majority of its life up until a few years ago, but we're sure Torty didn't dig nests then either.

Any help would be great, Torty has also been eating very strangely (i.e. not as much as usual) over the last week and a half, is this related?

Thank you.

The only way to be certain if she is gravid (has eggs) is an x-ray, personally that is the way I would go, because if she can't successfully dig a nest to lay (if she does have eggs) then she could become egg bound. I have tried to give you the link for signs of a gravid tortoise but ufortunately the link is not working.
Kind regards

Jane

hi  the very same thing is happening to my tortoise ,but i have had her x-rayed  and there are no eggs, usualy she is eating profusely it is very worrying ,any help would be so welcome.