Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just had a first clutch laid by my girl a couple of weeks ago. I put them in the incubator and looked at them today and ended up throwing out 5 (out of 12) of the eggs. They were collapsed and turned to mush. I candled the other 7 and I can say that atleast 4 look VERY good; I'm not sure about the others. Over all they look good, but I couldnt see any veins when I held the light up to them. Should I keep em in the 'bator anyway?
I read that they will lay more than 1 clutch from 1 breeding ,but the articles i've read don't specify how long in between each clutch. Is it once a year, or what? I DON"T plan on breeding her again. I didn't even plan on it this time, but decided to go ahead and incubate this clutch. It was quite a shock when I found eggs in her cage.
My only concern is if I should leave a laying box in her cage or take it out? I hear that if they don't have a good spot to lay eggs they could bind up. And I certainly DON"T want that!
Sorry if this answer has been posted before , but I couldn't find anything in the archives. -aren elerten@yahoo.com

I would leave them in there, just to be sure.

She can lay again anywhere from 3 - 4 weeks (usually.. sometimes longer)
Leaving the laying box is one option, or you can remove it and put it back in again when you notice her getting ready to lay again (digging, going off food, etc)

As long as you notice she is getting close to laying and provide her with the laying box, things should be fine and you shouldn't have any problems with her retaining her eggs.

I would double check your temps in the incubator 83 - 84 degrees and also the humidity level around 90%

>>I just had a first clutch laid by my girl a couple of weeks ago. I put them in the incubator and looked at them today and ended up throwing out 5 (out of 12) of the eggs. They were collapsed and turned to mush. I candled the other 7 and I can say that atleast 4 look VERY good; I'm not sure about the others. Over all they look good, but I couldnt see any veins when I held the light up to them. Should I keep em in the 'bator anyway?
>> I read that they will lay more than 1 clutch from 1 breeding ,but the articles i've read don't specify how long in between each clutch. Is it once a year, or what? I DON"T plan on breeding her again. I didn't even plan on it this time, but decided to go ahead and incubate this clutch. It was quite a shock when I found eggs in her cage.
>> My only concern is if I should leave a laying box in her cage or take it out? I hear that if they don't have a good spot to lay eggs they could bind up. And I certainly DON"T want that!
>> Sorry if this answer has been posted before , but I couldn't find anything in the archives. -aren elerten@yahoo.com

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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

The incubator stays at 83 and the digi. therm/hum. gauge reads out High humidity. I check the readings about once a day, and I open up the box about once a week to circulate new air and check the eggs. That good enough?
I read that she could lay up to three clutches a season. Is that about right? What is the most she should/could lay? Thanks for the help! -aren elerten@yahoo.com

Yes, she can lay 3 clutches from the one breeding. I have a dragon here that laid her third a couple weeks ago. Temp is good, and humidity sounds good.... I use the digi ones from walmart and thats what mine reads "high" for humidity. Opening them once a week for air is ok also... I drill two small holes in opposite corners of the lid on my glad ware tubs.

Feel free to email me Info@BeginnersBasics.com if you have any other questions I might be able to help with

>>The incubator stays at 83 and the digi. therm/hum. gauge reads out High humidity. I check the readings about once a day, and I open up the box about once a week to circulate new air and check the eggs. That good enough?
>> I read that she could lay up to three clutches a season. Is that about right? What is the most she should/could lay? Thanks for the help! -aren elerten@yahoo.com
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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com