Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, my female frilled layed 5 pearl white eggs

I am trying to figure out what went wrong last year since all the eggs layed went to term, then died in the egg.

I presently have them set up in ziplock plastic containers (the ones you use to keep a sandwich in) with peralite/ vermiculite mix. Temps average 84 degrees in the incubator, no higher than 86.5, or lower than 81.4 degrees Farenheit of course.

Last year i did the same thing, but didnt turn on the house AC soon enough and the eggs went up to 95 degrees, and i think this is what did them in. the eggs sweated, shrank, then that was it.

the AC is on allready this year to keep this extreme from happening, they are double thermostated, and have two light bulbs for heat hooked in paralell to prevent a "no heat situation".......

this gonna work out this time ??

Thought, suggestion ???

Matt

Congrats on the eggs!
I'm sure the heat must have done it last year. They dont seem to like to get above 86 in temps. The other thing is moisture. I treat the eggs almost more like veileds--letting them dry up slightly toward the end of incubation. It seems that a lot of people that had problems with them going full term and dying were keeping the substrate to moist.
Just my observations.
Dana

Im gonna have to agree it was likely heat.

On a side note, I will also have to agree with dana (yet again) on the moisture issure. I had my first 4 clutches of veiled eggs go bad years ago (all within a 2 week period) due to too moist of medium. The babies went full term, open eyes and everything, but the eggs were too rubbery for them to get out of. I learned from this (and the advice of a few other breeders) and started keeping my medium rather dry unless otherwise told different for a species.

Good luck with the eggs, its always good to hear about people breeding theese great dragons.

Mickey

Thanks for the input from the two of you. The temps are stable, air conditioner is on !!!!

When should i start to let the medium dry out ?????

I presently have them in a basic mix of perelite and vermiculte saturated, then rung out as much as i could with my hands. Its worked on beareded dragons, chinese water dragons, and speaking of chameleons, quadricornis chamleons when i was breeding them.

Matt

I'd say to keep it less moist during the second month, and then even more dry the last couple weeks--not so dry that the vermiculite will blow away, but pretty light.
dana