Posted by:
tbrock
at Mon Jun 22 22:53:57 2009 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by tbrock ]
>>Sue I've definatly had less problems since I started incubating their eggs in a drier mix. I've had less problems with the eggs being as thick and I don't have the eggs on the bottom growing mold like I used too. I also starting using pearlite mixed in with the vermiculite as it seems to get better circulation around the eggs. I started mixing with the pearlite mainly because the vermitulite I can get is very fine. I have since found larger grain vermiculite but still mix it with pearlite and really like the combo. I just put the eggs on the top and don't bury them.
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>>Randy Whittington
First, those are some great looking little Mocquard's, Randy! 
Second, I am finding your discussion with Sue, regarding incubating Beauty eggs to be interesting and informative. I know I have discussed my problems with incubating my calico taeniurus eggs before - and I am still trying to find my way with them.
I tried something different with them this year; zero-substrate incubation, using the ambient humidity inside the incubator as the only supply of moisture for the eggs. This was achieved with a few inches of water, with a heat source underneath, and with an aquarium airstone bubbling through the water. The airstone brings in fresh air as well as helping to maintain 100% humidity.
All seemed to be going well until I looked at the eggs at about the 48th day of incubation, and found a few to be denting in. I panicked, thinking that they were dehydrating, and this was way too early for them to be starting the pre-pipping denting in. After getting a suggestion from another keeper, I ended up with changing directions and covering the eggs with a loose layer of moistened sphagnum moss, which is my old standby.
Well, I just looked at them again, after a few days with the moss, and there does not seem to be any change. So, I am now guessing that they may actually just be getting ready to pip. I removed the moss from around them, and piled it at the other end of the incubation tub - something for the babies to hide under when/if they hatch, anyway. I had originally planned to manually pip these eggs at eight weeks, after 5 of 7 babies died in their eggs last year. Not sure I will still do this, but I may.
As a note, I incubated last year's clutch on top of large grain vermiculite, but I think my mixture was too wet, which may have (probably) contributed to the babies' deaths, and definately kept the eggs fully filled out for the entire incubation. They never dented in, which is a crucial part of hatching, according to some literature.
I have also kept these eggs a bit cooler than previous clutches, with a night-time temp drop. During the day, the incubator will get up to 79 - 80 F, and drop to 77 F at night. I think I tried to maintain 80 - 82 F with last year's clutch.
Calico eggs at 48 days
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-Toby Brock
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research
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RE: fresh little Mocquardi - tbrock, Mon Jun 22 22:53:57 2009