Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a batch of Florida King eggs in 100% vermiculite (in a shoe box size plastic container) and have a "slug" (yellowish-colored and smaller) that is stuck to the other good eggs. I had one other bad egg (pretty obvious right from the start as it did not appear to have formed properly) but this other one was not attached to the main clump so I placed it over away from the others (and disposed of it when it got bad).

I have always had very good luck hatching eggs in 100% vermiculite (little to no issues with mold whatsoever) but this slug egg is now starting to get a little moldy and I can see some mold forming on one other good egg (one that is down under the main clump). I typically try to place the eggs in a single layer with substrate about halfway up the sides but there is one egg in this clump that is directly on the bottom and so it is almost completely covered in vermiculite (this is the egg that is starting to show mold/mildew).

I have a humidity meter in with the eggs and it is right at 80% (and the temperature ranges from 79 to 88) -- should I set the whole clump (which is only 4 eggs total) up higher so this bottom egg is more exposed to open air? And should I try to cut or pull the slug egg off of the clump of 3 good eggs? (either now or after it has deteriorated more).

Any input or advice would be most appreciated as I am concerned this one bad egg may cause problems for all 3 good eggs it is attached to -- thanks...

Tim O
Sarasota, Florida

Happens all the time. Just don't try and remove the bad egg or you might tear into the good one.

They will be fine.

Thanks for the input -- I don't recall having this problem before so the "spreading infection" issue does concern me.

What should I do about the mold/mildew I see on that bottom good egg? (and should I tilt the batch so that the bottom egg is more exposed?) As an FYI, the top two eggs still look great and are getting visibly bigger already (although they are long and thin as opposed to a general "chicken egg" shape).

I have hatched many m a n y eggs with mold on them, If the eggs that are attached are good you don't have to worry about getting them "infected".