Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is my first year breeding hognoses and I was not expecting eggs for at least a couple more weeks. However, my female suprised me and she laid 6 eggs the other night. The lay box had moist sphagnum moss in it. Most of the eggs are brown, is this from the sphagnum or are they infertile? The weird thing is, I can see veins in them. Any help is appreciated.

Ryan

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Thanks for the help. I looked at them tonight and they don't look as wet. When I moved them to the incubator I used some perlite that was a bit drier.

Ryan

It's probably from the sphagnum. If you can see veins, the eggs are probably fertile. Wait a couple days and try to "candle" an egg (hold an egg over a flashlight in a dark room). Don't turn the egg, because the snake is attached to it at the inside. When you candle it, you should see veins and a little snake inside. I've never breed snakes before, but that is what I have read. Congratulations.
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James
My Web Page

Colby is right. That stuff looks too wet. Hognose eggs don't need a very moist incubating medium. Get some dryer stuff.
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James
My Web Page

I am incubating with perlite. It isn't that wet. The sphagnum is what I use in the laying boxes and that was pretty moist. That is where all the moisture would have come from. You wouldn't see a little snake inside after 2 days. There is only an embryo at this point. I have bred other snakes and geckos, this is just my first time with hogs. Thanks for the reply.

Ryan