Reptile & Amphibian Forums

About 2 months ago I found 4 eggs laid by my 3-toed. I brought them inside to incubate and have candled them periodically. 2 of the eggs seemed to take off immediately with all signs of viability. The other 2 were questionable. Now, it seems that 1 of the questionable ones contains a baby that is comparable in size with the first 2 (so there are 3 that are close to hatching). The 4th egg has puzzled me so that's why I'm posting. A few weeks ago there was a sudden "bloom" of blood vessels then what appeared to be baby starting to grow. The baby is viable, but from candling, this egg just seems way behind in development. I was wondering if there is an anomoly here or what might be going on. As far as I know, all eggs were laid at the same time, and she usually lays 4. Last year's clutch hatched a year ago yesterday.

I don't think there's any way to know for sure. It could be as simple as some change in the egg shell that made the veins seem more visable. I can't always see much when candling eggs that end up being viable. Just let it incubate and see what happens.

I let mine continue on even after their clutchmates hatch on the off chance they might hatch. Eventually they cave in. But I don't give up on them as long as hatchings a possibility.

So far, none of the eggs has hatched, but there are signs of movement still in all 4. Two of them are so opaque that I expect them go hatch soon. Again, though, that one baby, while active, seems so much less developed -- I would put it weeks behind the other 3. About what's the longest period of time any of you has had lapse between hatchings (in the same clutch -- I'm assuming these were all laid together....)

UPDATE: One of the babies is pipping as we speak. Hopefully the mystery will be over soon.