Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, this is the clutch that I posted a while ago:

The brown egg was definitely dead, and because I'm curious - I opened it up and found this:

So, it seemed like all the eggs kept gettin' worse but one. I candled them a week ago, and only saw movement in the one good egg. The other eggs had mass in 1/2 the egg, while the other half was clear.
Thank God, I had this cute lil booger hatch this morning!!!!
I think it's just a pastel. I havn't been messing with him/her to know if it's a super. The SURVIVOR:

Why did the siblings go almost full term and die????????
I really don't know!!!!! I mean, I know my incubator is crap, but why did they go so far and then die? And why did one egg find the environment suitable, and not the others?
I opened the other eggs, and TRUST me, these were definately dead babies.

Here is the normal:

Here is the pastel:

Here is one that died a while ago? a lil pastel?

Anyways, thought I'd share.
Thanks for everyone's input earlier, and I hope everyone has a fantastic breeding season!!!!

I m no expert and my memory is not always the best.... but your other post showed a large hole cut in the top of your egg box. Also noticed that your incubator was a top open system.

So if in fact your egg box was wide open with a cut in the top you lost tremendous amount of humidity. Also everytime you opened the incubator you allowed a huge amount of outside cool air to enter your egg box.

With the combination of changing temps and lack of constant humidity may have been the cause.

John

I agree, the design of the incubator was crap.
However, I did not have a completely open egg container.
I cut out a square on the lid of the tupperware, and glued/taped an acrylic window. My original reason for this was to be able to view the eggs without having to open the egg container.
I do think that the incubator "window" on top of the egg container "window", was a bad idea (in hindsight).

Here it is:

I will definately do a better incubator next time!!!!

Thanks for the input!!!!!

The container you used doesn't look like it seals very well. Instead of using the lid with the window, use press N seal. It seals real well and keeps the humidity in. I used that on all mine and the eggs stayed nice and plump....

Better luck next time....

Gotta agree with JenH, that press and seal is great stuff, especially when you're using egg crate and the eggs have no direct contact with a damp substrate.

I am going to third this notion. I used it this year, and given the look of my eggs, I am almost certain I would have lost them the same time you did if I didn't have the press and seal......something new for the reptile books to incorporate...and again especially with egg crate/difuser.

I will.

Too bad..sorry you lost them. I would say it is a definate possibility the problem was they were too dry. The eggs are very sunken in and there is almost no liquid. The liquid that is inside looks like it congealed in some of the pics even. Search 'cut eggs' or similar, and find posts where people cut eggs at 56, 58 or even 60 days and they have much more liquid with veins floating on top.

Live and learn..we have all made same or similar mistakes.

Try using plexi glass to cover that big hole in egg box if you want to view them. I would also double the eggcrate to two pieces under the eggs, or use 1" pieces of PVC pipe in the corners under the eggcrate, and add more water inside the egg box. As long as the water doesnt directly touch the eggs you should be good to go next time.

I'd start with humidity issues.....
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I appreciate all the advice!!!!

And I'm not trying to justify my inexperience/create a mystery/or argue with anyone....... BUUUTTT!!!............ I was practically wipping off condensation on the egg container lid EVERY DAY! There was PLENTY of water!!!!!!!! I wipped off the condensation for fear it would "rain" on the eggs!

I believe the REAL issue was with the heat coming from the bottom of the incubator and cool coming from the top - especially directly through the 2 "windows".

The temp gradient was too large.
Probably was even condensation inside the eggs themselves, and once the babies started generating their own heat, it made the condensation issue worse. Which is most likely why they went so far - and then died.

Those are my personal beliefs. I just cant believe I didn't have enough water/humidity in the incubator.

However, this incubator is now a dead subject for me
With everyones great advice/insight, I will do a MUCH better job next time I get eggies!!

I feel almost annoying- I'm sharing his/her pic with everyone!

Thanks everyone!!!!!!!!!!

I agree...Now take good care of him, cause he is going to be a story for you to tell for years to come. And if you posts have pics...their never annoying..lol. Good luck with him.

He will definitely be well taken care of

I love baby pastels, they are so colorful at this age!

Thanks for your nice compliment!

Nice looking Pastel. Sorry to hear about your incubation issues. Hopefully it is just a one time set back.

Dave

I think he's a nice looking one too! I love the pinks in the babies, and he's got cool looking markings as well- a little hook and some nice blushing.

I hope this is my only bad incubator experience!