Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My Jalisco milk laid eggs about 9 days ago. A couple were dented and the rest looked alright. A day or so after the rest started to dent as well. Now they are all dented except the one on the very bottom. I am using a Hovabator Incubator with vermiculite mixed 50/50 weight to water at 84 degrees. I check it daily and let in fresh air. I checked the worst egg today (the one on the left) and it had blood vessels all through it.
Do you think they just got too dry? Can they still be saved? This is my first year breeding so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanx
Scott

Put a moist paper towel or moist vermiculite over the eggs. That will hydrate them and they should expand. Make sure they don't expand so that the shells are stretched too thin. Check daily to make sure. Good luck!

I like the idea of lining the bottom of the container with sponges. I've never seen anyone use perlite that way. I have used vermiculite in the past. This year I used a mix of perlite and vermiculite as well as lining the bottom of a container with perlite and moist vermiculite over the top. Just trying something a little different. Nothing to report yet, no real difference or change in the results.

I like this setup because it's cleaner than vermiculite. I live in California, where weenies and lawyers rule. It's getting harder to find vermiculite because word has it that there are traces of asbestos in it. I went to perlite out of necessity and thought I'd try something different with the sponges. It worked great, so I stuck with it this year. Thanks for your comments, and good luck with your critters.

So you don't think it is too late to save them?

Scott

Think positive. Hydrate them and keep them at 81F or thereabouts. Use a moist paper towel. Place it over the eggs. Give them a couple of days to regain their shape. You need to do it now, though. Good luck.

I would continue to try to rehyrdate them as you described. Based on how they look though I don't think you'll be successful. Sometimes my geckos lay their eggs outside of the
lay box, and they look dented like this. Even when they are just slightly dented I have never been able to get them to rehydrate. Good luck though.

Two have hatched and at least two more are pipping. I'm thankful for everyones help and support. I'll post some pics soon.

Thanks
Scott