"Circle" veins are always supposed to be on top the egg right? I am asking because a few days ago, one of my rainwaters laid two eggs during the afternoon, and when I got to them (probably a couple hours after they had been layed), I carefully marked the top of each egg and candled them. I noticed the small circle veins on top of one egg right underneath where I had marked, but on the other egg the circle vein was on the opposite end. I'm thinking it may have rolled over. Well I ended up marking the side where the circle was and put them both in the incubator. Today I candled them and I noticed that the circle veins had doubled in size and have somewhat expanded. Does this mean that the embryo had made it through being upside down? I've never ran into this situation because the eggs I have currently incubating have all been layed with the veins up. Hopefully they do pull through, I kinda felt sad after thinking one embryo might have drowned. Thanks for your time.
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"Circle" veins in eggs
Replies (4)
The embryo can't really drown until it's developed. You don't want to rotate the eggs after a few months because you might drown it, but within in the first few minutes to an hour the egg is fine if it is rolled. The females always roll the eggs around themselves after they're laid. I just take the egg out of the egg laying box exactly as it was sitting, even if the circle isn't on top.
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The Hypo Gecko
Thanks for the reply, I learn something new every day on this forum. So do you think the fact that the circle veins are expanding is a good sign they are good eggs? My first hatchlings ever should be hatching within a week or two, after seeing your pictures and videos, I can't wait!
Yes, the expanding is a very good thing. That means it's growing, and pretty soon there will be a lot of veins throughout the whole egg.
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The Hypo Gecko
If anyone has ever had the good fortune of witnessing a female Leopard Gecko lay her eggs, it is quite fascinating. After they have been deposited, she takes the eggs with her rear feet and rolls them back and forth, changing sides about every 10-15 seconds for several minutes. The eggs are like 'Jello-Jigglers' and they seem to take shape and get firmer as she rolls them. At times, it looks like her claws are going to puncture the eggs, and they seem to be taking a beating! Then, when she feels like the eggs are firm enough, she starts the task of burying them.
On a similar note, several years ago my husband accidentally knocked over an Hovabator full of eggs. There were 10 deli-cups, each with at least two eggs, and needless to say he felt horrible and I was sure I would lose most of them. I do not mark my eggs, and also put them in the deli cup exactly the way I find them. They were all over the place, but I carefully replaced the eggs in the vermiculite, and put all the cups back in the incubator. Much to my surprise, all but one of those eggs hatched! It kind of makes me wonder about how critical it is to keep them in a specific position.
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Marcia McGuiness
Golden Gate Geckos
www.goldengategeckos.com
