Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a corns snake that laid eggs, and I have moved the eggs to an incubator, keeping them at 82 degrees F and about 70%-80% humidity.

But I noticed one of the eggs started growing fungus (furry/fuzzy looking stuff). I gently removed this from the egg, without rotating or turning the egg. But I'm concerned I didn't really do anything except get rid of the visible part of the fungus. The egg still appears to be fertile.

Is there anything I can do to treat the eggs to prevent spread of it? Is there any way to treat affected eggs?

Normally, fungus/mold doesn't grow on healthy fertile eggs. Why do you think this egg is fertile? Did you candle it?

She dropped 15 eggs, and they all seem to be plump and white. They are only a few days old. Can I candle them this young?

She didn't lay them in the hide box I provided, and instead laid them in the aspen beeding. I don't know if the aspen bedding was all that sterile.

Can fungus spread to fertile eggs?

Normally, fertile healthy eggs won't be affected by fungus. Every time I've ever seen fungus growing on an egg, it has been an infertile egg.

Well, you might be right - I pulled out my copy of The Corn Snake Manual and they show two clutches of eggs side by side. One clutch of eggs is infertile and all the eggs are cylindrical shaped. The fertile clutch of eggs look more like spherical. All of the eggs I have are cylindrical.

Don't throw them out yet. The fact that only one of them had fungus on it may be significant. Keep the ones that don't have fungus and incubate them, they may be good.

Fungus can spread to healthy eggs, if it is growing thickly around it. Generally its a good practice to toss any eggs that develop fungus to protect the healthy ones. Eggs start of kind of cylindrical, but get rounder and darker as the embryo develops. You might want to lower the temp to 80 you'll have better results. I have had several snake born with kinked tails from having the temperature even 2 degrees higher then it should be.

I have read somewhere about using one of the over the counter Athlete's foot sprays to control fungus growth on eggs. I don't remember which one, but someone else may know.
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Chris Harrison