Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So..I'm looking for some hard data here. My dad and two brothers are getting together for a "guys weekend" camping trip on the outerbanks in June. The problem is that the dates of the trip will coincide very closely with the hatching of a clutch I have in the incubator right now.

The trip will be on day 51 throuh day 54 for this particular clutch. My incubation temps are always the same (between 88.7 and 89.4, depending on which of my three thermometers you believe. I feel pretty good that its right around 89). I went back and looked at the data from all of my ball clutches over the past couple of years, and this is what I get: An average of 56.8 days (n=5), with the shortest being 55 days and the longest being 60 days (unitl pipping). I have had two clutches pip on day 55. Looking at this data, I shouldn't have to worry too much about the clutch pipping while I'm away, but its close enough to make me uneasy.

So, here's the question...Within a basic temp range (say 88 to 90), what is the shortest incubation period you've observed? Anyone ever had a clutch to pip in the sub-54 day range?

Thanks!

Because you are going out of town, they WILL pip early. LOL

Mine usually pip anywhere from 55 - 60 days. I think the average is around 57 at 89-90 degrees.
-----
Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

I had one egg pip on day 53 for me, with her sister 3 days behind on day 56.

Go and enjoy your trip and chances are they'll have pipped but won't be out of their eggs yet.

~jenny
-----
"The python has, and I fib no fibs,
318 pairs of ribs.
In stating this I place reliance
On a seance with one who died for science
This figure is sworn to and attested,
He counted them while being digested."
~Ogden Nash

jenny.thegreenes.org

"If you're happy and you know it,
Bomb Iraq!
If you cannot find Osama,
Bomb Iraq!
If the terrorists are frisky,
Pakistan is looking shifty,
North Korea is too risky,
Bomb Iraq!