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This is my first year breeding Cresteds and I had three out my five female lay eggs. I had 12 eggs total and the first 2 sets of eggs(from two different females) hatched great. but the same 2 females second set of eggs died all 4 of em. One pair made it and them slit the egg and could not get out. The other 2 just didnot develop right. I have 4 eggs left and 2 are growing mold. but the eggs are still white. I had a fairly poor hatch rate this year I think i have done everything right. Is it just because it is the females first year? I incubated them on Perlite at 77-79 degrees. I have had a little bit of a mold problem to? Whats wrong? Should I use Vermiculite?
thanks

''This is my first year breeding Cresteds and I had three out my five female lay eggs. ''

Im going to make a guess that these are all first year breeding females as well.(Because 2 females didnt lay eggs and the three that did only laid 12 total.)With that assumption its not unusual for the first years eggs to be small, not hatch, hatch but not survive.However 2 out of 12 is very very low.Ive always had great luck with my hatch rate nearly 90% with my first year girls being the ones to bring the average down.

As its nearly impossible to know what your doing wrong..ill tell you how I do it and perhaps youll see away to improve your chances.

First off I feed my geckos Crested gecko diet .Ive never had a female get a calcium crash or lay a egg under calcified. I dont add baby food or any of that too it..I feel it waters down the orignal intention of the food.

Secondly I dont breed them until they are between 32-35 grams.A too young gecko doesnt produce healthy animals and may die itself.

when I get the eggs I place them in a clear plastic deli container. with just a few holes poked in it to give a little air and ventilation.

I use and prefer vermiculite but many people use pearlite with equal sucess.I take vermiculite fill it with water then hand squeeze as much water out as possible then put the egg in.

I think many people keep their eggs way too wet.if you take a bit and pinch it between your fingers you should be able to produce a drop of water.But thats after squeezing it hard.I add water about 1 every 2 weeks.Just a very small amount.

once the eggs are placed in the container.I dont handle them again. I dont candle them,I dont try to open them , I dont weigh them, I dont change the vermiculite, . I do keep them at 79 degrees in a incubator .This is probally unecesarry but it works well for me.

in about 3 months they hatch

Great suggestions! I use perlite but your instructions and suggestions are right on!
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MY female laid 5 sets of eggs this year. I incubated them all on Pearlite at whatever temperature my bedroom is (69 to 79 degrees, depending on time of year). The container was a gladware storage tub. I put some water in the pearlite. I misted and openned the container about once weekly. All hatched fine and dandy. No mold, no deaths.

I've used vermiculite in the past for beardie eggs, don't like it as much as pearlite.