Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So of the 14 in this clutch, 4 were dead in the egg. I am wondering why. One possiblity is that the vermiculite was too wet. At one point I added water because I thought it felt too dry. I did not base that on any change in the condition of the eggs.

After adding water, some of the eggs swelled noticeably. Two of them split and leaked a little.

The final results:

Two eggs leaked: one hatched, the other died.
Two eggs grew fungus: one hatched (the first to hatch) the other died.
One egg grew MUCH larger than the rest, but did not leak: it died.
One egg attached to the fungus egg which hatched: died.

Kinda hard to draw any conclusions from all that. Any ideas?
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Kent

1.1 Hypo (het lavender, striped) cornsnakes, 2010
1.2 Gray-banded kingsnakes, blairs phase, 2008
1.1 Oregon rubber boas, w/c 200?

Colossians 3:17

One thing I will be more careful of with my second clutch is whether or not I add water. They are all fine with no collapsing, so even though the vermiculite barely feels damp I will wait on adding water.
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Kent

1.1 Hypo (het lavender, striped) cornsnakes, 2010
1.2 Gray-banded kingsnakes, blairs phase, 2008
1.1 Oregon rubber boas, w/c 200?

Colossians 3:17

or too wet.

However, before I knew this I used to keep eggs too wet and they would swell and still hatch...it's all a crap shoot really. So many variables.

However, what has worked for me is a high humid environment without being moist. I use sphagnum moss and it works well for me.

I will only mess with the mix if I see good eggs denting in...which rarely happens if you have a fairly sealed egg container.

I open the containers for fresh air at least once a week.

Hope some of this helps.

I just lost a huge clutch of 9 eggs that appeared to be good...you just never know until you see pippers!

-Rusty

Thanks Rusty. This is only my fourth year breeding snakes. My first year with alternas (2 clutches), and also my first to use vermiculite. I have used moss in previous years with my corn snakes.

I really like the vermiculite, so I guess I just lucky I didn't kill them all by adding too much water. I will definitely leave the second clutch alone as long as they look ok.
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Kent

1.1 Hypo (het lavender, striped) corn snakes, 2010
1.2 Gray-banded king snakes, blairs phase, 2008
0.0.10 Gray-banded king snakes, 2011
1.1 Oregon rubber boas, w/c 2000 and something

Colossians 3:17

Last year was my 1st with vermiculite also. Had good hatch on moss, just thought/heard vermiculite was better. Hope all 8 in next clutch hatch for you. Dave. Photo fron 2005. This years and last years babies come from 1.2 group from there. Sadly the alterna phase girl died at 3...

With Styrofoam lid off to show incubating pan. Two small holes on either end of plastic lid for oxygen. 50/50 Perlite/vermiculite with distilled water added then squeezed out excess. In early weeks of incubation wiped condensation off lid frequently, but medium always stayed dry feeling to the touch. No water on eggs. About two thirds way through pyro incubation when adding bull snake eggs added a bit of distilled water as condensation seem to be decreasing to the point I thought a tad more water was warranted. Now just bull snake eggs due mid August. Candled them last night and saw veins. Eggs are dry to touch but plastic lid shows moisture. I think the key is to have the medium dry to the touch but high ambient humidity. Lizard eggs have same conditions although in their own incubation pan and are nice and pink as they should be. Due late August.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

sorry about the 4...No idea why they would develope then perish. Were all the ones you slit fully formed? Perhaps others will know more if added water hurts? But 10 is a nice round number and they look great! Hopefully the gb forum will appreciate them too...Dave.

Yes they were pretty close to being fully formed.
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Kent

1.1 Hypo (het lavender, striped) corn snakes, 2010
1.2 Gray-banded king snakes, blairs phase, 2008
0.0.10 Gray-banded king snakes, 2011
1.1 Oregon rubber boas, w/c 2000 and something

Colossians 3:17

to have 10 healthy hatchlings! That will keep me busy.
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Kent

1.1 Hypo (het lavender, striped) corn snakes, 2010
1.2 Gray-banded king snakes, blairs phase, 2008
0.0.10 Gray-banded king snakes, 2011
1.1 Oregon rubber boas, w/c 2000 and something

Colossians 3:17

10 babies is a great hatch! Those Blair's phase are just awesome! Can you post a picture of the mama again and one of the papa?
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Here's the Da:

And the Ma, before she laid her eggs:

I need to get them outside and take some new pics.
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Kent

1.1 Hypo (het lavender, striped) corn snakes, 2010
1.2 Gray-banded king snakes, blairs phase, 2008
0.0.10 Gray-banded king snakes, 2011
1.1 Oregon rubber boas, w/c 2000 and something

Colossians 3:17

Thanks for the pics! I love to see the parents of these clutches; it rounds out the whole experience nicely. A handsome couple, for sure!
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.