Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here are pictures of my first two clutches of ball python eggs laid this year. Both picture were taken within hours of being laid. The picture on the left are eggs from a 2000+ gram female and the one on the right from a 1750 gram female. Both have been kept in the same rack at the same humidity and temperatures. As you can see from the picture the eggs on the left looks like they have water spots on them where the ones on the right are nice white and full (couple little spots). From candling all the eggs are fertile. I have seen this before in ball python eggs as well as other python eggs. I personally have not seen decreased viability with this condition but wanted to ask if anyone else has? Also what is the cause of the spotty appearance of the eggs? Thought this might make an informative thread.

Thanks,
George Knaack
GLK HERP

...Am I the ONLY one waiting for his first clutch of the year!?

...Anyways, the process by which fertilized eggs are shelled is subject to a myriad of potential problems, most of which are quite rare given a female in good health. In this case, the cells in the oviduct which lay down calcium may be doing so in some atypical fashion, leading to these "shell defects". Not all defects are incompatible with normal development. Given good incubation conditions, these eggs will hatch.

Hey see you Sunday!
SJM

I think there are different factors that affect the way the shell is laid down in the oviduct. Your eggs look good from here. I too have had eggs with those spots and they hatch just fine.

I have hatched eggs with large spots and windows where you can see right into the egg. The pictured above has a window but if you look closely at the the other eggs you can see little spots that are similar to the ones you are describing. My guess is that something went wrong when the shell was being laid down but it is only a guess.
Good luck George. What's cooking in the eggs?
Joe
Joe Compel Reptiles - Ball Bits - Egg Variations

Thanks Scott and Joe for the info. As for what's cooking in the eggs, both clutches are from 100% het ghosts to normal females. Unfortunately neither of my male ghosts or het female ghosts were breeding size this year so had to settle for possible hets. If all goes well next year I should produce a few ghosts and number of 100% hets.

Thanks again,
George