Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Another egg split open prematurly,the moisture level in the vermiculite is really high.I didn't soak it with this batch like I did on the first batch.This is my set up,I put the eggs in a diposable gladware bowl drilled holes in the bottom and top sprinkled the vermiculite lightly with water,placed lid on loosely and put in a hovabator set on 82 degrees,I also placed a bowl of water in the incubator to keep the humidity high.It seems like the vermiculite is absorbing the humidity and becoming saturated, Should I remove the bowl of water? The eggs are swollen and I think thats why the one busted this morning.I put the other eggs in a new bowl with some dry vermiculite to try and dry them a little so they won't split.The split egg had another well developed embryo that was about 3/8ths of an inch in size and it was moving on top of the yolk.This is really becoming a sad and frustrating situation.Ahy help will be greatly appreciated.Thanks jasonmills

I just finished incubating 3-toed eggs with a 100% hatch rate. I use a Hovabator set between 82-84 F (with a digital thermometer probe in with the eggs to monitor temperature). The vermiculite is moistened but I cannot squeeze any moisture from the vermiculite (but it clumps nicely). I do not add any other sources of moisture as I like to monitor the eggs every couple of days and add a little more moisture when needed.
If they eggs are splitting early then there is too much moisture. I would suggest removing the water bowl and adding a little bit of dry vermiculite to absorb any excess moisture from the incubation medium.

Ed

Thanks Ed ,do you keep a cover on your container or keep it open,I removed the bowl of water and added some dry vermiculite and it looks like the eggs reduced their size a little,when I found the one split open the others looked like ping pong balls.I also purchased a digital temp. gauge with probe and the high temp. is 83.3 degrees.Hopefuly in a few weeks I'll have some babies of my own.I also have 3 more eggs that were laid on August 23rd.Thanks jason mills

I keep the container lid on inside the incubator. I have a couple of small air holes that allow ventilation for the eggs and every couple of days or so I check the moisture levels so there is plenty of air exchange. If the eggs are a little too dry I mist the whole container with water until the moisture level is right again.

Good luck

Ed

Thanks again for all your help.Now one of the swollen eggs has a dent in one side it doesn't look like it's going to split.What causes this? I know they gain and lose water maybe the vermiculite is to dry now? or is this just a normal occurance Thanks jason mills

If they are denting in then it is a little too dry. Mist the eggs and substrate lightly and close it back up and check the eggs in a few hours (I usually wait about ten to 12 hours and if it is still too dry I then mist it again) to see if the dent has filled back out.
Incubation takes some practice but once you get the hang of it, you will be set.

Ed

Thanks for all of your advice,I misted the eggs and container,will check in the morning to see if the dents went away.Once again Thanks for all of your help.jason mills

do any of you guys put a moist rag or towel over the eggs to keep them moist. Instead of keeping the vermiculite moist i keep the towel moist. Does anyone else do this. Thanks

I never had as good a success when I tried this, so I gave up years ago. I know some people that cover the eggs with long fiber sphagnum moss and have excellant sucess. This technique has also not worked well for me.

Ed

I'm not having any luck with the dent coming out and the other eggs are swelling up again.Is it possible that the egg with the dent has died and is not able to absorb moisture?I don't want to keep adding water and take a chance on splitting the other eggs .Thanks jason mills

Try nestling that egg a little further into the substrate. It may not have sufficient contact with the substrate. I tend to bury my eggs about 1/3 to 1/2 of the way in the vermiculite.
If the other eggs are fine then I would not add any more water to the enclosure.
I have had babies of other species hatch out of dented eggs without a problem so I wouldn't write the eggs off yet.
Ed

Thanks Ed for all your help.About how many days does it take for them to hatch the 1st batch was laid june 25th 71 days 2 eggs 1 hatched prematurly the other still in the incubator,the second batch july 27th 38 days 4 eggs 1 split open 1 has dent ,3rd batch august 23rd 11 days all ok.I know there's no set days but when is the point that you give up on them hatching.I have some that have white tops,some are brown in color and apear to be sinking in,and some still look like the day they were laid a pinkish orange color.It just seems like the only ones that change size and or split are the ones with the white tops.I've always had turtles but this incubating eggs is new to me just trying to learn as much as possible to give the eggs the best chance of hatching.Thanks for all of your help.

I don't give up on them until they are obviously bad anymore as I have had animals hatch from eggs that I would normally have tossed when I was more fastidious.
The eggs that are brown and are sinking in are probably no good. Pick the worst looking one and slit it open and look for development. If there is no development then you know the egg was not fertile. This way you also get a better feel when an egg is bad.

If there is development you can get a feel for when something went wrong with the incubation.
The last batch of three toed eggs I just had hatch, hatched about 45 days and I was very surprised to see them slitting out (incubation temps were a very stable 82 F). I was expecting hatching between 75 and 90 days. I have had other species go early in the pervious years such as spotted turtles hatching in 40 days.

Ed

I opened up the brown egg that was 71 days old and it was fertile but stopped developing at a very early stage.I recall that this egg really didn't change in size during the incubation period.This was 1 of 2 eggs from the first batch the other split open around day 36 with a dime size turtle in it,I was keeping the vermiculite to wet on this batch.The second batch of 4 eggs 3 turned white and one looks like the brown egg from the first batch ,so I'm figuring that this one has probably stopped developing also,but I'm going to leave it incubating until it's completly brown and sunk in just to be sure,1egg from this batch also split open early from this batch.Hopefully the 2 eggs that appear to be fine and still seem to be gaining and loosing moisture will hatch in a few days(fingers crossed).Ed I want to Thank you for all of your help.If they hatch I'm going to name one Ed,if it wasn't for you and the nice people on this forum I would still be in the dark.Once again Thanks.I'll post pictures if and when they hatch.Thanks jason mills