Reptile & Amphibian Forums

nest boxes in the incubator have condensation built up on the bottom of the tops. I've herd not to spray water directly onto the eggs but what of condensation dripping on them?

The ideal egg box would have no condensation dripping on the eggs. Ideally, enough humidity without actual liquid touching them. But read on..

On the other hand, I've sprayed eggs directly with water all through their development, I've applied rubbing alcohol to a few eggs with some mold/fungus/whatever on them, I've prematurely cut open an egg, I've exposed them to a wide range of temps, and I've even dropped some (the whole box of them).. and yet, all of the above hatched just fine. Thank goodness for their sake that colubrid eggs are so tolerant of their keepers' antics.
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Mark

np
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I still don't need no spell chack.

Marks right about the eggs being fairly tough and resilient to things, but just to make sure to give all the eggs their best possible odds of hatching, I make sure there is a fair amount of ventilation holes in the top of the box(and a few in the side) to allow good air exchange. Also the container will have a little less condensation on it if they are kept at a temp that is not TOO warm(79-81 degrees)......also, every couple days I wipe of the lids to prevent the water from landing directly on the eggs!

All these things will certainly increase the odds of having all your eggs hatch out!....whereas otherwise you might have a few go bad needlessly.

best regards, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

I use saran wrap covering a shoebox. Saran wrap is held on by scünci "Headwrap" rubberbands (Raley's). No holes, I have dry air and with holes, humidity is lost. Once a week I remove saran wrap and wave my hand over eggs to bring in fresh air.

In an incubator, the temp outside the saran wrap is not cooler than air inside, so condensation on the plastic wrap doesn't happen.
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3.6 L. getula californiae - 5 eggs (Cal. King)
1.1 L. getula nigrita (MBK)
1.0 Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
1.0 Boa constrictor constrictor (suriname, fostering/rescue)
3.3 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

Yeah,..... your method sounds like it works just fine.
I live in south Florida were it is extremely humid, and I've had fabulous success with the method that I've used here for many years now.......you know the old saying..."whatever works"!

`Doug

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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Understanding what causes condensation...

"Also the container will have less condensation on it if they are kept at a temp that is not TOO warm (79-81)"

Actually that is not true in the least:

Condensation is not a matter of one particular temperature but of a difference between two. Condensation of water vapour occurs when the temperature of air is lowered to its dew point.

Kerby...
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Lonesome Valley Reptiles
www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com
Specializing In California Kingsnakes

And a good way to keep your humidity/moisture level constant is to drop your night time temps.

**Dew points indicate the amount moisture in the air. The higher the dew points, the higher the moisture content of the air at a given temperature. Dew point temperature is defined as the temperature to which the air would have to cool (at constant pressure and constant water vapor content) in order to reach saturation. A state of saturation exists when the air is holding the maximum amount of water vapor possible at the existing temperature and pressure.

When the dew point temperature and air temperature are equal, the air is said to be saturated. Dew point temperature is NEVER GREATER than the air temperature. Therefore, if the air cools, moisture must be removed from the air and this is accomplished through condensation. This process results in the formation of tiny water droplets that can lead to the development of fog, frost, clouds, or even precipitation.**

Kerby...
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Lonesome Valley Reptiles
www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com
Specializing In California Kingsnakes

If the egg container is kept slightly warmer from an underneath source that makes it a little warmer than the surrounding(ambient) air temp(like you stated), you will get condensation on the lid, at least I do if I incubate that way in South Florida!. Even using a big container filled with water, and using an aquarium heater to heat the water, while the egg container is set up on bricks works well, and it too will get some condensation on the lid.
Also, another way that worked very well for me in Florida was to keep the "snake room" with an open window in the spring/summer months, and just leave the eggs in containers on a shelf along with all the other snakes at a target temp of 81-83 degrees, and it works just fine,.....just ask the several hundred snakes I've hatched!LOL.........I've always had an extremely high hatch ratio with whatever method I've ever used, so although your physics lesson on moisture is true, I don't think there is a great need to tell me how to hatch some snake eggs.....after all, I wasn't the one posting with a moisture problem.....I have a much better hatch rate than MANY other herpetoculturists I know!

Put quite simply, I've raised, bred, and have hatched MANY snakes in forty years of snake keeping!....don't assume that because you don't recognize a user-name on this forum, that they are new to snakes.

~Doug

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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Don't get your panities in a wad bro.

I've never questioned your techniques. Nor did I question your experience. What's your beef? You said something that wasn't true, I corrected you-get over it. It's not THAT important and now you're back peddling with a bunch of crap.

Don't even try to start a pissing contest with numbers. YOU brought that up - WOW! LOL

Go to bed, you will feel better in the morning....

Kerby...
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Lonesome Valley Reptiles
www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com
Specializing In California Kingsnakes

Kerby and Dmong. I knew you guys would find each other sooner or later.

Now get along children.
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I still don't need no spell chack.

But Doug has an inferiority complex... glad he's not on campus right now.

All I did was mention "condensation" and "dew point" and he went crazy.

Maybe my smiley faces in my posts confused him?

Kerby...
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Lonesome Valley Reptiles
www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com
Specializing In California Kingsnakes

You've got some serious anger problems that you need to address........"BRO".....that's a fact!, I merely stated what worked for me, and you go off into a full-blown fit of rage!
holy smokes!.........valium works good for that.

You made some pretty nasty comments there,....and I can make them just as good as anyone,.... but I don't see the need.

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Remember that everyone is reading what you have said.

You started this..it is that simple.

Here is the part of your post that I responded to:

**Also the container will have a little less condensation on it if they are kept at a temp that is not TOO warm(79-81 degrees)......**

I simply responded with a correction to your statement about condensation and dew point. Still with me here? Oh, and I was soooo mean with those explanations that it must have been the smiley face that came across as mean?

YOU then responded with your panties in a wad about not getting any respect because you aren't a big name around here and that you have hatched hundreds of snakes over 40 years--- WOW! Grow up BRO!

You simply made a mistake on the condensation part..I made a friendly correction and IT WAS YOU who copped an attitude. Go read your post again. You are truly confused. It is THAT SIMPLE!

Cheers BRO! LOL

Kerby...
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Lonesome Valley Reptiles
www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com
Specializing In California Kingsnakes

Stop acting like a friggin' punk kid and grow up some!!!!!!!
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

How many explanation marks can you make?

LOL

Are you embarassed now that you can't erase or change your previous posts?

And your BEST comeback is for me to growup?

LOL

Goodnight!

See, I NEVER QUESTIONED your abilities to raise snakes, etc.. ALL I DID was correct you on the condensation/dew point definitions...and how did you respond? I don't care how many years you have been raising snakes, I don't care how many snakes you have raised, I don't care how you incubate your eggs, I don't care that you claim to have a better hatch rate than many of the big breeders..... I never mentioned any of that..YOU DID.

Ya see, I'm old enough to read and comprehend...you on the other hand are capable of taking a piece of women's clothing and wading it up..and then cry about it. LOL

Kerby...
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Lonesome Valley Reptiles
www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com
Specializing In California Kingsnakes

stop replying to all your juvenile nonsense,...but the way you carry on like a little kid throwing a temper tantrum,..the more I become intrigued as to what foolish comments you'll make next!

If you are so damn smart like you say you are, then why do you continue on like a little kid!?

For someone that thinks they make so much sense, how can you think that this crap throwing makes you look like anything short of an idiot?......Is there a good justified answer for that too?
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

heee haaaw!

I knew it.

LOL!
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I still don't need no spell chack.

LOL!! I think I may have figured it out..LOL!!

See, I was informing you on "condensation", Doung was "condenscending".

Kerby...
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Lonesome Valley Reptiles
www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com
Specializing In California Kingsnakes

You started this (please read YOUR post)..

and I will end it LOL

Kerby...
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Lonesome Valley Reptiles
www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com
Specializing In California Kingsnakes

Geeze guys...away for a month because of a move and I find this....

Leaves me in a fog....LOL

Frank

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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

{b]Isn't there a condensed version?{/b]

1) SOMEONE GETS OFFENDED
2) IT BECOMES HE SAID SHE SAID
3) TESTOSTERONE/ESTROGEN KICKS IN AND GETS UGLY
4) IT ENDS WHEN ONE OR THE OTHER STOPS

In another two weeks to a month the players might be different but the process will repeat itself..

Isn't life grand?
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I still don't need no spell chack.

1) SOMEONE GETS OFFENDED
2) IT BECOMES HE SAID SHE SAID
3) TESTOSTERONE/ESTROGEN KICKS IN AND GETS UGLY
4) IT ENDS WHEN ONE OR THE OTHER STOPS

You forgot one-

5) THE MODERATOR DELETES THE WHOLE THING.

You forgot one-

5) THE MODERATOR DELETES THE WHOLE THING.

LOL! As well they should.
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I still don't need no spell chack.

I'm actually gigglin' to see you guys way down here in the "smoke" of the brawl!LOL.......and yes, It was totally out of control........I guess it was a little more exciting to read than someone posting about their snake not eating!!LOL

Anyway, Kerby and I are both cooled off, and no hard feelings towards each other.

I'm glad we can all see a little humor in it now!

later guys!

ps....man,..this post is so far down, I'm getting the "Bends"!!
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"