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Shriveling Eggs! please help

Tristan Nov 04, 2003 01:47 AM

Hello. My female laid her first clutch about a week and a half ago. She was housed with my male dragon. I put the eggs in a hovabator. Temp has been a constant 82 degrees and humidity around 70. I took a peek at them today and some were shriveling up. What does this mean? Could they be infertile? Are the ones shriveling up bad? Please help. This is my first clutch of eggs from any of my females.
Thanks,
Tristan

Replies (5)

dblough Nov 04, 2003 02:13 AM

I'm no expert on this subject either but I ran into this same exact problem with my first 2 clutches, I was also told to keep the temp at 82-83 degrees but I ended up losing 27 of my first 30 eggs. Then my brother went to a show in Sacremento and he talked to a breeder there that gave him some tips to pass along to me. She told him to have me raise my temps up to 86-87 degrees and also to wrap the egg bowl/container with saran wrap, she also said to place a large tub/bowl of water in the incubator with the eggs. After I did all of this I was able to save 3 eggs from those first 2 clutches and I currently have my 3rd clutch of eggs in the incubator and they look fantastic. Hope this helps.

D

DiG Nov 04, 2003 08:52 AM

I'm not an expert either (I am on my second clutch right now) but with my first clutch a few eggs shriveled in the first week or two. I was told that those were likely unfertile eggs, but my other eggs did very well. The most important thing is to keep your correct temp (I'm not so sure about the person that suggested temps over 86 degrees.....I've heard that is way to high!) I keep my eggs between 81 & 84 and they hatched at day 67. This latest clutch I am incubating at approx 80 degrees to slow the process and hopefully not hatch eggs while I am out of town over Christmas.

Sounds like some of your eggs are doing well, I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

DiG Nov 04, 2003 08:53 AM

I'm not an expert either (I am on my second clutch right now) but with my first clutch a few eggs shriveled in the first week or two. I was told that those were likely unfertile eggs, but my other eggs did very well. The most important thing is to keep your correct temp (I'm not so sure about the person that suggested temps over 86 degrees.....I've heard that is way to high!) I keep my eggs between 81 & 84 and they hatched at day 67. This latest clutch I am incubating at approx 80 degrees to slow the process and hopefully not hatch eggs while I am out of town over Christmas.

Sounds like some of your eggs are doing well, I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

Tristan Nov 04, 2003 02:40 PM

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm at school right now, so I can't tend to the eggs at this exact moment.
What should I do with the shriveled eggs? Some are half shrunken in. Should I throw them away? Or will putting
a bowl of water in the incubator help them regain their form? I didn't really count how many were shriveled,
I just know that some of them were. I'll take a look later when I get home and
let you guys know.

BeginnersBasics Nov 04, 2003 03:08 PM

I wouldn't give up on the shriveled ones yet. I would lightly mist the inside of the lid to add more humidity and give them another day or so. Placing that open dish of water in the incubator will help also..... and get those temps DOWN to around 83 - 84 degrees

>>Thanks for the advice guys. I'm at school right now, so I can't tend to the eggs at this exact moment.
>>What should I do with the shriveled eggs? Some are half shrunken in. Should I throw them away? Or will putting
>>a bowl of water in the incubator help them regain their form? I didn't really count how many were shriveled,
>>I just know that some of them were. I'll take a look later when I get home and
>>let you guys know.
-----
Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

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