Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 3 female chuckies who have produced several clutches of eggs through the years. The eggs were all incubated in a Hovabator, and all went bad after a week or so. I've read in these messages that the temp should be 90 to 91 degrees F (I tried 86). How should the humidity be regulated? I sprayed the eggs daily with warm water, which SEEMS necessary to prevent the shells from drying out. Am I keeping the eggs too wet?

What do you have the eggs packed in?

I've used vermiculite several times, and perlite several other times. What's better to use?

I have read in other posts that you need a specific ratio of water to vermiculite. Chris, DVL, or Tom could best answer your question, but I haven't seen them post for a few days. I'll see what I can find, but they sould not be packed in dry vermiculite.
Angela

I found this archived in an old post.
" When the eggs are laid, incubate them in vermiculite at 86° to 89°F that has a water to vermiculite ratio of .65:1 by weight. To make it easy, just take 100 grams of vermiculite and add 65 grams of water. You'll need a good scale."

I hope this helps.

Well now, that's a good question! No idea. I've read about that concept and wondered how the heck it's done. Do you weigh vermiculite and water? Or is it a volume-based ratio? Please explain. Also, doesn't the ratio get messed up as the incubation progresses? My Hovabator's not a sealed system, so there's some evaporation, I'd assume.

Oops! I hadn't read through the entire chain. It's already been explained. Thanks! I'm printing all the advice for future reference.

that may clog the pores and deprive the eggs of oxygen. to regulate humidity adjust the ventilation in the egg container. I put a bunch of holes in the lid of a plastic tub and cover some of them with scotch tape . I then untape the holes to remove humidity and tape them up to add humidity. Weight the tub, eggs, water and substrate and reweight weekly adding water apound the eggs not on them to to maintain original weight.. As hatching time approaches i have more holes untaped so its a bit drier

John styner

You need to keep the eggs in vermiculite with a ratio of .65 to 1 (water to verm.) by weight. NOT VOLUME To make it easy, take a container and weigh it and then add 100 grams of vermiculite and 65 grams of water. Mix it well and place the eggs in it half buried, then put a lid on it. You can keep track of any lost water by weighing the entire container and adding if needed, but it's usually not necessary.

It will seem very dry as compared to other types of lizard eggs, but it is absolutely necessary if you want the eggs to go full term. Too much water in the mix and they'll die every time. You can keep them anywhere from 86° to 90°F. They'll hatch in approx. 80 days or so, less if you keep them on the warm side. E-mail if you have any questions. chuckwala2@aol.com

Hey Dave, Tom, anyone else. Been really busy lately, not much time for web surfing. Dave or anyone else, feel like going to Baja in October?

BJ