Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My eggs are 8 days old and they are developing stringy-looking mold. The eggs are round and look good, but is the mold a certain indication that the eggs are bad?
Thanks in advance for replies.
snake adventures

Yes,....at only eight days into incubation, it is either FAAAR too moist for them, or the eggs were not good to begin with anyway. If you are using vermicuite, it should be just BARELY moist enough to clump together without falling apart in your hand. This has to be done a very little bit at a time while thoroughly mixing it, because if there is too much water added, of course it will certainly stick together when squeezed, but it will have too much water nonetheless.

You do NOT want to see any water dripping from it when squeezed!!

Another important thing that some folks do, is burry the eggs too deeply in the medium. You only want to put a little dimple in the medium to "cradle" the egg and leave about 3/4ths of the egg exposed. The eggs will absorb the needed moisture like a sponge from the medium and the air inside.

Too wet and the egg will swell and the embryo will drown. Eggs that are too moist can very often swell to the point of bulging and rupturing too.

Barely moist is the key, while leaving just enough air circulation with a couple tiny holes in the container.

Checking on them to see how they are doing every couple days is always a good idea. If they become too dry, the egg will begin to dimple in as well. If this happens, just take the eggs out(after you mark them with a small dot with a marker or pen to keep them properly oriented), and sprinkle just a tad of water and remix well.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I agre with Doug if they are molding that quickly it's probably cause they are infertile. Healthy eggs have a way of surviving many times even if we make mistakes. I have seen pictures of clutches with babies coming out of them that were so nasty looking that it's hard to even identify an egg. However even though there maybe some bad eggs you may still have some good ones so don't just toss them out yet. You can use paper towels of a Q-tip to try to clean off some of the mold and as Doug said make sure it's not too moist or wet.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Thanks,
One of the eggs did swell and burst, so they must be too wet.
snake adventures

If they are not all drowned already, mark the top of the eggs with a pen or marker so you can orient them back to their original position, then get the eggs onto PLAIN DRY vermiculite ASAP!!!!!!!!!!

Let them stay that way for a few days until the swelling due to all the excess water they absorbed can go down some, and only THEN resume back to SLIGHTLY!!! moistened vermiculite and see what happens for a while. I have a feeling you probably killed the entire clutch, but do exactly as mentioned and see what happens.

good luck!

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Too much moisture. When you spray down the eggs, never spray the eggs directly. Spray around the eggs. Usually when mold starts to spread it is not a good sign. Another possibility is the incubation temperature is too high. I really hope your eggs hatch for you and the mold is just an eye sore. I wish you the best of luck and as always- HAPPY HERPING