Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just opened my last remaining woma egg from my first clutch. Out of 14 eggs, only 2 lasted this long due to incubation errors (humidity too high). Of these 2, the first pipped sometime late last night/early this morning. Because of the outcome of the other eggs, and because it wasn't looking very good, I opted to open the second within the first 24 hrs. The neonate inside was fully formed and pigmented, but dead. There appears to be nothing in its stomach, as it's pretty thin. Any thoughts as to what may have happened? Did I open to soon? The yolk sac appears to have a slight grey tint to it, but there there are red viens still present. There was no movement of the neonate as I removed it. Any thoughts?
Mike

How high was the humidity and how do you know it was too high? Exactly how did you incubate them on what substrate?

Maybe what I should have said was that the perlite I used was too wet. I used a variation of the no substrate method, however the surfaces in the egg box were constantly wet. When setting up for my second clutch, I reduced the water considerably, so that the humidity is at 99%, but it takes a few days for the surfaces to get wet from condensation. They've been in for a little over a month now, and are looking nice and healthy, except for some minor indentation here and there. The first clutch was developing large black 'water' spots after the first 24hrs.

The dead neonate was so small in comparison w/ the live one, that I don't think there was anything I could do. A friend of mine echoed this same sentiment after seeing the pics. I just think the errors I made were just too much for it to handle. On a positive note, I think I've learned greatly from my mistakes.
Mike

will get to see some ramsayi real soon!!!!!!!!

Some people learn faster than others. I figured this fact out rather young, the obvious difference in size of a mere school bus, gave it away.
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Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

Your humidity is to high. Get your incubator set up before the eggs come. Have the humidity 85-95. A fully developed baby means the egg was to wet.