Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got up today to find one of my eggs has a little mould on it, and a small dent in the top, these are Elvis's Eggs, I would be so sad to see a second clutch die before my eyes, so I grabbed the athlete's foot powder I bought the last time, and dabbed a little on the mould. Thanks for the tip John and Eve, otherwise I'd not have had any to hand. I dripped some extra water in there, and left for work.

Anyway I came home tonight to find that several others also had little dents, despite me topping up on water, and still having steam within the cricket box. Basically I have soaked and squeezed some more vermiculite and transferred them into fresh tubs which I know have the right humidity.

ANYWAY, cut to the chase kelly...... a few of them have slight grey patches on them, not like mould or anything, but as though there is a thinner patch on the shell, like a weak spot which wasnt there before, is that anything to be worried about?
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Kel

www.collaredlizards.co.uk
0:0:1 Timor Monitor
2:3:0 Collared Lizards
0:0:2 Chinese Water Dragons
0:0:1 Dune Scorpion
0:0:1 Imperial Scorpion
1:0:0 Desert Hairy Scorpion
0:0:1 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
0:0:1 Green Tree Frog
0:0:1 Grey Tree Frog

Sometimes towards the end of incubation they will begin to dent in and also get (thinner shelled as they sweat) but If my memory serves me (hahahhaa) I do not think yours are ready yet.

Mold and caving in early on, seems to suggest maybe the egg was infertile, died, too WET/damp perhaps. How damp do you have your substrate? The foot powder I had told you about is used by some when there is a small spot of mold on the egg to see if it will stop the mold growth. But if the mold continues to grow and the egg continues to cave in, it will evenually be no good.

How wet are you keeping the substrate ? Were these eggs nice and firm and plumb after she layed?
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PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

The one with the mould on, I realised was as a result of being dripped on, candling has shown that he is still alive in there, I have shuffled my tubs around so that the condensation from the lid cannot drip on them (aquarium incubator) which should prevent any more wet eggs // mould. It is definitely fertile, he was wiggling away in there this morning, and every single one of them has nice pink veins in and has done since day 1.

I cant tell you the percentage of humidity as I dont have a hygrometer, but I did wet some coarse vermiculite and squeeze it out before placing it in a tub with a hole in the lid about an inch in diameter the day before they were laid (22nd April)

I have dripped a little water in there about a week ago, and thy have always been plumped up and fat, its just yesterday that two appeared to have a dent in, both in separate containers, both were the egg underneath the hole in the lid. Basically I wasnt sure if I was going to be putting too much water in, or not enough, so I just set up new tubs and once they were warmed up I transferred them. First time I have actually touched them since they were laid (except for transferring into the tubs)

The grey spots appear on 3 different eggs, two from Maggie's (45 days is the 30th May) and one from Elvis (45 days is the 6th June) None of these eggs are dented or have any mould on, and the spots are only small
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Kel

www.collaredlizards.co.uk
0:0:1 Timor Monitor
2:3:0 Collared Lizards
0:0:2 Chinese Water Dragons
0:0:1 Dune Scorpion
0:0:1 Imperial Scorpion
1:0:0 Desert Hairy Scorpion
0:0:1 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
0:0:1 Green Tree Frog
0:0:1 Grey Tree Frog

How long before pipping do they start to sweat and dimple? Just for my own reference ??

Thanks
Kelly
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Kel

www.collaredlizards.co.uk
0:0:1 Timor Monitor
2:3:0 Collared Lizards
0:0:2 Chinese Water Dragons
0:0:1 Dune Scorpion
0:0:1 Imperial Scorpion
1:0:0 Desert Hairy Scorpion
0:0:1 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
0:0:1 Green Tree Frog
0:0:1 Grey Tree Frog

Have to run, but some eggs begin to sweat and dimple a couple days before actually hatching. I have seen all kinds things, some just BAM and they are out, some take days, some don't seem to sweat much but cave in and head pops out. But the shells do thin out before hatching, get darkish looking, so be patient my friend.

They all seem different and do it THEIR way... But kind of the same.

Some of yours are close though. I have some due this weekendish (Maybe) I was calculating a ton of lay dates last night and hatch dates. Seems everyone is laying or gravid, I have been busy, (NOT as busy as they have been) LMAO

I am waiting on another incubator, this one is WAY full.
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PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

Thanks again as always, Eve you are one of life's little treasures, lol

I guess we are only a fortnight off, Andy said today that it is likely that the embryo is starting to use the calcium within the egg, or something like that which kind of makes sense, hopefully they will all be fine, the dented ones have plumped a little since yesterday, and I know rehydration with eggs doesnt happen overnight, fingers crossed and watch this space, lol. Eve good luck with your new bator, I'm sure it will be full in no time
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Kel

www.collaredlizards.co.uk
0:0:1 Timor Monitor
2:3:0 Collared Lizards
0:0:2 Chinese Water Dragons
0:0:1 Dune Scorpion
0:0:1 Imperial Scorpion
1:0:0 Desert Hairy Scorpion
0:0:1 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
0:0:1 Green Tree Frog
0:0:1 Grey Tree Frog

Then you are gettign close to hatch time. Just keep your eye on htem. If they are not too wet, then maybe it's nature taking it's course. Dab the one egg with the powder every so often (if he is alive in there then thats awesome).
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PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve