Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I have a clutch of BP eggs that are three weeks in. I am using a six quart tub with vermiculite. The humidity has been really good. But now at the end of three weeks the moisture is starting to really build up on the side walls. The eggs look great and the moisture it not touching the eggs. I have two small holes right now. Should I make bigger holes to let a little of the humidity out. Also I am using plastic wrap across the entire top plus the lid.

Thanks for your help,
Bill
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2.1 Tripple Het Caramel, Orange Ghost, Genetic Stripe
1.1 Het Lavenders
1.1 Het Caramel Albino
0.1 Het Albino
0.1 Spider Het Albino
0.1 Het Pied
1,1 Pastel Het for Orange Ghost
1.0 Albino
0.1 Spinner
1.1 Super Pastel
0.1 Jungle Pastel
1.0 Pied 50 percent White
0.1 Clown
0.3 Normal
1.1 Kids
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Chocolate Lab

Try removing the plastic wrap for a day , as long as there is some moisture building up on the sides/ or lid you should have enough humidity to do just fine, be sure if your using a substrate that it is staying damp too but air tight like that isn't necessary in my opinion. For the first half of incubation I do keep the humidity up there pretty high but the last 10-14 days I let it drop a little . I do spray the eggs around the time they start to pip however as I think it helps keep the shell from getting to stiff, maybe not a big deal but I do it... GRADUAL CHANGES are by far the most important thing to keep in mind whenever messing with eggs! Hope this helps.

Anthony McCain

Thanks Anthony,

I just wanted to make sure the extra humidity showing was OK.

Bill
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2.1 Tripple Het Caramel, Orange Ghost, Genetic Stripe
1.1 Het Lavenders
1.1 Het Caramel Albino
0.1 Het Albino
0.1 Spider Het Albino
0.1 Het Pied
1,1 Pastel Het for Orange Ghost
1.0 Albino
0.1 Spinner
1.1 Super Pastel
0.1 Jungle Pastel
1.0 Pied 50 percent White
0.1 Clown
0.3 Normal
1.1 Kids
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Chocolate Lab

Bill,
As the eggs mature they actually start giving off heat which is a byproduct of the respiratory/metabolic (yes eggs need and use oxygen)process which is necessary for the development of the embryo. This causes the temperature in the egg box to rise to a level a degree or two higher than the set temp of the incubator. When this happens the moisture in the warmer air condenses on the walls of the egg box. It is really the same principle as mosture condensing on the inside of a window in the winter time. Venting will help reduce the condensation.
Hope this helps
Grant

Thanks Grant,

Do I want to keep the temps the same in the incubator as that happens. When I check on the eggs I check the temps and they are at about 88.5 degrees in the egg box. I may just make the two holes a little bigger to help with the extra humidity.

Thanks again,
Bill
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2.1 Tripple Het Caramel, Orange Ghost, Genetic Stripe
1.1 Het Lavenders
1.1 Het Caramel Albino
0.1 Het Albino
0.1 Spider Het Albino
0.1 Het Pied
1,1 Pastel Het for Orange Ghost
1.0 Albino
0.1 Spinner
1.1 Super Pastel
0.1 Jungle Pastel
1.0 Pied 50 percent White
0.1 Clown
0.3 Normal
1.1 Kids
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Chocolate Lab

I think you'll notice the humidity drop some once you remove that plastic wrap and just use the lid, making the holes a tad bigger may be ok but try just removing the plastic first. I myself don't worry to much about the temp rising as I set mine at the lower end of the spectrum anyway just for that reason. I use a walk-in room so can't have a bunch of different temps in there anyway so I run them a bit cooler than some people do just to be safe. Doesn't hurt anything but my patience as it takes a couple days longer for them to hatch at cooler temps. I start candling at about day 40 anyway so if it's something that I can't handle or keep still about I usually have an idea long before they hatch what I got coming by candling. I did this with the Potions last season , and I was pretty happy when those eggs started to develop pigment that I could barely make out in the last say 5-6 days prior to hatching ( I was worried at first as they looked like white snakes in those eggs until the very last days of development). Anyway your temps aren't to high at the moment , if it gets to 90F- back down the temp dial then..

Grant is 100% correct too on what he's saying so combine the 2 thoughts and you'll figure it out!

Anthony McCain

Bill,
The building up of moisture from the eggs is a natural part of incubation. The difference between incubating eggs in the wild verses captivity is that our eggs are surrounded by plastic which does not allow for obsorption of excess humidity. When my eggs begin to sweat I simply get a paper towel and wipe the drops of water off of the plastic.
Here is a video I placed on YouTube a few weeks ago, I hope it helps.

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Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

Thanks for the video Brian. It was great.
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Alice Cobb
Florida Reptile Room

Alice,

Thanks for your comment. I hope it helps those with questions about incubating snake eggs.

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Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

Thanks Brian,

I am using your egg box method. It seems to be working well. Since I am in Denver it is extremely dry. So I have started with some smaller holes in my egg box. I will increase the hole and see if that helps. Ive got 9 very solid eggs and I want to see them develop into beautiful little babies.

Bill
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2.1 Tripple Het Caramel, Orange Ghost, Genetic Stripe
1.1 Het Lavenders
1.1 Het Caramel Albino
0.1 Het Albino
0.1 Spider Het Albino
0.1 Het Pied
1,1 Pastel Het for Orange Ghost
1.0 Albino
0.1 Spinner
1.1 Super Pastel
0.1 Jungle Pastel
1.0 Pied 50 percent White
0.1 Clown
0.3 Normal
1.1 Kids
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Chocolate Lab