Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay I posted a little way down yesterday that my female had laid 2 eggs that were flat. I go in her room last night and guess what. SHE HAS LAID 2 MORE EGGS!!! These however were not flat. So I removed them and put them in a container w/sand. I am still not sure wether or not she had actually mated with my male! My question is are these eggs viable? Does anybody have pictures of freshly laid eggs that I could compare with?! ANY and all help is greatly appreciated!!! Thanks all!

Jesse
P.S. How common is it that a female lays 4 eggs in a 24 hour period?!!

I have never had a female lay 4 eggs in a 24 hour period... it sounds as if she was egg bound with the first two, and after producing another clutch laid all 4.

But like I said I've never seen it happen before, so that is just my guess.

There is really no one specific look for fertile eggs... as you can see in the pic. The best I can tell you is look for well formed, turgid eggs. They should be pretty white unless your lay box medium has stained them.

Also, I wouldn't incubate in sand, try getting some vermiculite or perlite.

-----
-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Red Striped Tangerines, Carrot Tails and Screaming Amel Fat-Tails

Thanks for the advice everybody. I will switch them over now and see how they develop. I really appreciate it!! Have a great Memorial Day everyone!!!

Jesse

It is odd that she would lay 4 eggs but if she is kept with a male then don't take any chances since the eggs could be fertile. Put the eggs in a plastic tupperware filled with moist (not too wet!) vermiculite or perlite (I use perlite). Cover the container and keep the container between 80-88 degrees (do not let it go higher or lower than those temps and try to stabilize the temps as much as you can).

I have had this happen, but only after artificially inducing the female. I agree with Ross that she was bound. I am glad to hear she layed them all without incident (good time to increase her calcium intake). Generally the first initial bound set of eggs are not viable. This is still somewhat of a mystery to me, but in my experience, the retained set of eggs will contain a gelatenous white mass with no embryo. I can usually get the second set to hatch as normal. They will, from a visual perspective, be normal in appearance and to the touch. But, you never know, all could be fertile and thriving. I would incubate as normal and good luck!
-----
Galen Clark
www.captivescience.com