Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a female who has laid three clutches. This is her first year breeding, as well as the male. I candled all the eggs at the time of being laid and they were all glowing a nice pinkish-rose color. However, now one egg of the first clutch has turned yellow when candled and one egg of the eggs in the second clutch has started collapsing. The third set were not buried when found in the egg-laying box. The appear to be just fine, and still candling pink. The first set was laid on April 10, 2007. How long should I wait until I should slit them open? Last year the eggs all hatched around 64-67 days at temps of 82-84 degrees. It has been 69 days... I know I am probably being impatient... However, like I said before, I have recandled the egss and some of them are still pink. Shouldn't they be dark if there is a baby inside? They are candling the same as when they were laid. When should I slit them open? How long should I wait and let them incubate? Any help or advice is great.

P.S. The male bred with a proven female from last year before the female who's egs I am talking about. The first female's eggs have all been infertiles. Should I rule that this male may be infertile? I have used first time males and had sucess, so I not sure where to stand on this one.
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~Laura

Rejoice, the age of the fall has begun
We'll dance as the palaces burn.
--Lamb of God, As the Palaces Burn

Candling is an art as much as a science. It's a good indicator but, depending on your candling method, may not be 100 percent accurate. A pink hue is good, but you should also see darker veins developing. Over time, you should also see a dark embryo begin to form. But again, there's no point in slitting them open until 100 days unless you're desparate for incubator space or unless you fear contamination to the other eggs. Are you incubating in deli cups or all together in larger tubs where mold could spread? The collapsed eggs and the yellow egg are likely infertile but, again, leaving them in there another three weeks will do no harm.

All the eggs are in seperate deli cups. There are still pinkish red veins, but like I said, no dark embryo. Also like you stated "it is a science" and I may be reading it wrong. Thanks for the help! I really appreciate it!
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~Laura

Rejoice, the age of the fall has begun
We'll dance as the palaces burn.
--Lamb of God, As the Palaces Burn

Laura,

If you see red veins, don't slit. I know you're curious, but since their separated in deli cups, no harm can come to the other eggs. Given that, there are only two outcomes of slitting the eggs--their infertile, which is too bad, or you kill a developing embryo, which will really bum you out. Just give them extra time, and if the end up not hatching, you'll need to question the viability of your breeders. Since you've already hatched eggs using other breeders, it doesn't appear to be an incubation issue.