Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know this is the crested gecko forum but you guys are pretty fast at responses and the lacerta lizard forum is pretty dead and I'm hoping there are a couple similiarities....

What does it mean when the eggs begin to show dents in them? They're in damp forest bedding w/a heat light to maintain them at 78-80 degrees F.

I don't keep, or breed, these guys. One at a local petstore had ten from a really good looking mom and they can't incubate the eggs. I figured I'd give it a try, but I suspect my lack of breeding knowledge is not doing the eggs any favors. Any advice would be great! Thanks
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1.0.0 Thoroughbred
1.0.0 Mali Uromastyx
0.1.0 Bearded Dragon
0.1.0 Crested Gecko
1.2.0 German Shepherds
1.2.0 Cats
0.1.1 Birds (Cockatiel and Conure)
1.1.0 Rabbits
0.0.2 Florida red-bellied turtles
3 Fish tanks (SW and FW)

Dents showing in reptile eggs typically mean one of three things.

1- not enough moisture/humidity

2- infertile eggs (typically they collapse or show dents within a week or two of being lain

3- about to hatch. many reptile eggs will dent or collapse before hatching, usually one or two days before hatching.

If the eggs have been incubating for quite some time, the third option may very well be what's happening. If they are only a week or two old, then they may not be fertile, or could be too dry. If too dry, add more water to the incubation medium...but be careful not to add too much or directly onto the eggs.
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PHLdyPayne

Don't throw those eggs away until they are absolutely rotten. Never give up on an egg until you either scrivels into a hard knot or starts to stink.

Steve

Thanks so much guys, I really appreciate the advice.

Two of the eggs have little tiny dents in them (though they have not dented more in the last 24 hrs), but the others are still holding firm! I'm trying so hard not to get my hopes up as I have never ever incubated eggs and still don't know if I'm doing it right. It's exciting though. I don't know how the breeders do this!

I'm keeping them at 80 degrees F during the day and lowering to 70ish at night. I read conflicting things on temperature. Some sites said "constant temp" and others said "that's not accurate because in nature, temp changes from day to night and even hour to hour."

I kept adjusting the container bit by bit by the light until it was *just* right. Hope the eggs are happy. I'm trying my best.

I am keeping their forest bedding moist enough that it's wet but not so wet that it would wring out water if squeezed. That's what I read, if you have thoughts on that let me know. I'm also making very sure to not get the eggs themselves wet.
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1.0.0 Thoroughbred
1.0.0 Mali Uromastyx
0.1.0 Bearded Dragon
0.1.0 Crested Gecko
1.2.0 German Shepherds
1.2.0 Cats
0.1.1 Birds (Cockatiel and Conure)
1.1.0 Rabbits
0.0.2 Florida red-bellied turtles
3 Fish tanks (SW and FW)

these are brand new eggs. They were just laid Saturday, so they are no where near hatching.

I still don't know what kind of lacerta she is, specifically, and the incubation dates are vastly different for the different types. So I guess I'll just incubate the little suckers for as long as they stay nice looking and when they hatch, they hatch!
-----
1.0.0 Thoroughbred
1.0.0 Mali Uromastyx
0.1.0 Bearded Dragon
0.1.0 Crested Gecko
1.2.0 German Shepherds
1.2.0 Cats
0.1.1 Birds (Cockatiel and Conure)
1.1.0 Rabbits
0.0.2 Florida red-bellied turtles
3 Fish tanks (SW and FW)