Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,
I have had cresteds for almost a year now and about 3 months ago finally started breeding them. I have gotten a total of 10 eggs so far from them however I have a problem. All of the eggs I have gotten are fertile and do well all the way up untill about two weeks before they should hatch. The first two laid both made it all the way up to the point when they should hatch, and both eggs went bad. As of right now, all my other eggs are looking good, however I am nervous about losing them too. Its a terrible feeling opening a dead egg to see a perfectly formed cresty in there. If anybody can give me some advice I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

Usually dead in the shell babies of birds or reptiles are due to humidity problems, too much and they drowned, two little and the shell wall becomes to difficult to break through.

Sorry about your luck, hope it turns around
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Adam - 0.0 African Sidenecked, 0.1 Redfoot, 0.1 Sulcatta, 1.0 Western Hognose, 1.0 Crested Gecko, 0.1 Mali Uromastyx

It's funny that you mention this problem after this past weekend I had a conversation with someone that dealt with the same thing.

What he told me was that he only had about a 1/4 of the egg burried in the vermiculite/perlite and that there wasnt enough humidity/moisture that the top part of the egg was drying some and hardening so they couldnt get out. He said he actually went through about 100 eggs or so (not everyone dieing) before he figured out his paticular issue.

I have been breeding reptiles since 90 and from early on have always burried my eggs about 90% then take alittle in my hand and put a dusting (moistened of course) of vermiculite so essentially they were burried. Doing this left the egg shell slightly thin within 2 weeks or so of hatching so I would uncover the top part by then. So I have never had the problem you are having and he had in the past. Doing this always made my eggs grow ALOT and that means much larger babies.

I hope this helps

Eric

Thanks for the help, I am going to try and increase the moisture because the egg shells did seem rather hard.