Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey, I know that if I just WAIT my patience will be rewarded, but I thought I would ask all the experts here anyway.

When my Cal king laid her eggs on 4/21 they were pretty soft. They hardened up a little but were still a bit malleable to the touch. I was told that was normal. A few dimpled in at that time, and all but one puffed back out. One has a few permanent "wrinkles" in the shell, but otherwise is fine. All eight eggs have strong veins. Now it's getting close to the nearest hatch date, whcih would be 60 days on the 20th. I have kept the eggs mostly between 80 and 82, with some night time drops down to 76 and a few day time peaks at 86, but it's been steadily 99% of the time between 80 and 82.

Today I was peeking at the eggs, and I noticed that several of the eggs seem a lot softer to the touch (still had strong veins as soon as three days ago when I let the step kids see what they looked like). Does this mean they are getting ready to hatch? Do they normally get more pliable and softer as they are getting ready to hatch? If they ARE, does anyone have any sort of idea how much longer it will be? I know, I konw... if I wait, they WILL hatch, but I just am over-anxioius. This is our first clutch of eggs, and it's been a truly fascinating experience from beginning to now, and I have my fingers crossed that all is well.

The other eggs in the home made incubator are a lot more indifferent... but that's because they were laid 35 days after the others so it will be a while before I worry about them.

Anyway, just thought I would ask if anyone had any experience with the eggs getting "softer".

Oh, and I have not been jabbing the eggs, just gently touching them. I've read from some people that they should never be touched, and others say it doesn't matter. Some say spray ON the eggs, others say NEVER do that. I've touched the eggs and misted them VERY lightly (mostly I don't, I mist the sides of the incubation rubbermaid so it remains moist)

Anyway, comments are appreciated.
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~Sasheena

Ground Snakes: Kit, Kaboodle, Tantilla, Tantillas, Lightning, Kinkee, Maple; JCP: Dreamer; Rosy: Castle; Kings: Cali Licorice, Bishop, Queenie, Jester, Tigris, Euphrates; Blotched Pandora, Phantom; AZ Mtn. Lady; Corns: Aphrodite, Athena, Hermes; Tiger Amulet

Heya Sash =)

Usually about a couple days to a week before eggs are ready to hatch they will soften up a bit, and alot of the time they will also visibly sag and dimple, so sounds like things are going well for your clutch there. Just treat them the way you have been, mist if necessary and they'll do fine. Once they start to slit or pip it can take the babies up to a couple days to emerge fully from their eggs (in order to absorb the rest of the yoak sack), but during that time you'll have loads of fun watching them put their little heads in and out...it's almost like they're teasing you sometimes, lol.

STILL waiting on Guen's eggs, but it can't be too much longer as she had one readied earlier then got miffed when I opened the tub for a better look and sucked it back in, lol. She has 5 days left before I start getting worried, but I'm betting tonight when we're asleep and all is quiet.

Any luck with Queenie's possible double clutch?
Keep us posted!

I checked them again (me and Patience... someday I'll learn it... ).... They seem even softer! Oooh, I'm so excited. And it's so convenient being a high school teacher, this way I am home to watch the whole process. And to be frazzled by the time it takes! But my step-daughter's birthday is the same as the day the eggs are due (Saturday) so my hope is that we see a little snakey head on that day. Will make record keeping easy... First clutch was laid on Easter, Second clutch on Memorial day, first clutch to hatch on step-daughter's birthday... and the second clutch will probably QUITE conveniently choose the day we move as the convenient day to hatch!

As far as Queenie having a double clutch, she's gotten a bit slender and is still eating. Had a nice adult mouse for lunch today and doesn't seem in any way gravid. I don't know why she was so LARGE unless she was ovulating but wasn't allowed to mingle with any of our males. I'm going to put some sphagnum moss in her cage for her to frolic in, even if she isn't gravid. Just in case. As it is, I think that the 16 hatchlings I'll have this year will be enough to start with.

Hope things go well with your Guen!
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~Sasheena

Wish List:
0.1 adult Whitewater Rosy Boa
1.0 CB Spilotes Pullatus
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python