Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi This is only my second season breeding bearded dragons.
Ok so this season i've had problems with my eggs appearing to sweat small drops of water, then the eggs start looking dehydrated and crinkle in on themselves and go bad???
I have been told that it is to wet, so i tried alittle dryer subsrate and the eggs still went bad.
I have been told that it is to dry, and that the eggs were sweating because of it. Anyone ever had this problem before??? Possible solution??? I have 6 more clutches and don't want to loose them all please help.
All the eggs started out healthy plump and white. They only started to turn late into incubation. When I opened some up they appeared in late stages a few weeks from coming out on their own. It starts with little dew drops on the tops of the eggs. then the eggs soften and go bad a few days after that. the egg boxes arnt overly wet their is no condensation on the tops. please help

sweating and dimpling near the end of the incubation period is the typical sign of eggs getting ready to hatch. However from the pictures, I am pretty sure your big problem is your incubation medium. It looks like plain dirt or coir (cocunut husk). I would switch to vermiculite or perlite mixed 1:1 by weight vermiculite and water.
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PHLdyPayne

I have heard good and bad things about the vermiculite. I got a bunch of it here, I use it for my snake eggs mixed half and half with the eco earth. I have been using straight eco earth on the beardies because of the risk of the babies eating it.

I use only vermiculite and keep mine at a measured 99% humidity throughout the entire incubating process. I have never lost an egg or had mold. But, keep in mind I am not a breeder and only incubate a few eggs a year.

I tend to agree with the vermiculite/perlite. I use vermiculite myself. I only hatch a few clutches a year. Take care Beth

Yeah I switched to the vermiculite tonight. Hopefully it will turn help me out. I already noticed their is more humidity in the egg boxes. Hope for the best. I'm getting out of the beardies for a few seasons. Just wana get my last few clutches out.

Another thing about using eco earth is that it could cause the conditions to become to acidic for the eggs and developing dragons. Also because it is organic it can promote mold or bacterial growth. vermiculite is a mineral and alot safer to use. I have been breeding Beardies for 12 years and always have used vermiculite with no problems.

peace,
Nate
Uluru Dragons

I have bred beardeds for 18 years and have always had great success with vermiculite and perlite your media looks way too wet good luck there's nothing like watching that first little head poke through.