Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok guys, I have brought the 4 eggs in that my three toed laid a week ago tomorrow. The racoons where trying to get to them even with the baracaid I made. I got worried they were going to get eaten.
I currently have the eggs in a square tupperware container filled with vermiculite and water mixed in. I purchased a Zoo med thermometer and it came with one that reads the humidity as well. I have buried them so I can get a more accurate reading on the temp and the humidity. I then have the tuperware container in a ten gallon aquarium. Under the aquarium I have a Zoo med heating pad that sticks under the tank. There are four little blocks underneath the tupperware container in side the tank. I did monitor the consistency of the incubator for two days before putting the eggs in. My humidity is at 95% and the temp is 82 to 83 degrees witch will fluctuate by two degrees up and down. I do lightly mist the container with a spray bottle one to two times a day and lay the lid over the tupperware container depending on the temp and or humidity. I am home during the day and am able to monitor the temp and I do at night when I happen to wake up which is several times since the eggs have been in my house due to the fluctuation and wanting to make sure the temp is ok. This is my fist time attempting to hatch eggs ever! So any advice, websites or book referrals are great.
What is a temp that might be too high? What is your opinion about temperature? I don’t worry about the temp being to low because it never goes passed 80 degrees, it does get up to 84 and 85 but never higher than that! I did purchase a hovabator and will be here tomorrow but I wanted to know if in there first week(the eggs) with the temp fluctating up and down a lot but with in three to four degrees is bad or ok. I know that a consitant temp is best but will this be ok until I get them in the incubator? I know ultimatly time will tell but advice or stories of experience are always good to know!
Thanks for your help and support!
Mary-Kate

eastern box turtles are supposed to be here(never seen one) and I know for a fact the temp would not hold stable in their nests, a couple days ago we had alot of rain and the temp fell to 65 degrees, the day after that it was up to 88 degrees, I am worried your eggs are too moist, you should only mist once a week if that, mine only get misted maybe once every other week if I feel the substrate isn't moist enough, this far the only one with a dent is the infertile one.
my eggs temp varies with the weather and the temp in the house, never getting higher than 84 degrees or cooler than 75, for the first month they were steady at 78 degrees, now they are starting to fluctuate between 80 and 82 degrees.
-----
My Site
1.2.1 Terrapene Carolina Triunguis
0.1 Nymphicus hollandicus
1.1 Melopsittacus undulatus
1.0 American Cocker Spaniels
1.0 American Short Hair? Cat
1.1 Rouen Ducks

Rouen,

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post!
I thought that I would have other responders, I guess not!
Thanks for the advice!
Mary-Kate

It depends on what you're trying to achieve.
Temperature fluctuations are fine, as long as they're not too extreme: temps. vary in nests outside, afterall.
I prefer to keep temperatures steady because I'm temp. sexing the kids here.

Steph, thanks for your insight I appreciate it!
Mary-kate