Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a clutch of Aru eggs that were laid on April the 1st. That is 49 days ago. I had horrible results last year with artificial incubation so this year I left them with the female. The maternal incubation seems to have gone well but I expected to at least see slits in the eggs this morning. According to Greg Maxwell (the book)maternal incubation should be exactly 49 days. Should I be worried. At 50 days, he advises pipping. Any constructive comments?
Thanks.

what incubation temperature and is your thermometer calibrated?
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Julie
www.[url ban]/gfx

Hello and thanks for the response.

I have two Herpstats ND. One records in or next to the coils of the mother, and one right outside the nestbox. I keep the outside 1.5 to 2 degrees cooler than the inside reading. The one inside is only used as a thermometer not connected to a heating source. So, I am letting the mother control the temperature and I am trying to make it a little easier on her with some heat.

Interestingly, the temperature inside (mom's temp) varies throughout the day. From about 84 to 89.

Greg Maxwell has his artificial incubation worked out in such a way that his eggs will hatch on day 49, most breeders have a more varied hatch time, my aru clutch last years started hatching on day 51 on the last one hatched on day 53,

since you're doing Maternal incubation I'd expect it to take a bit longer than 49 days, if you're worried you could slit all eggs as soon as the first one slits his egg,

good luck with the remaining incubation,

Jurgen.

That is what I needed to hear. Thank you very much.

Maternal clutches usually pip on day 49, but there are many variables that can change the outcome. I wouldn't worry to much. When you see mom loosen her coils, start looking for little noses. Good luck.
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www.brandonosbornereptiles.com

I got seven healthy babies. Three did not hatch and were full term. Unfortunately, the hatching was bad timing and I had to be away from the house for two nights. I wish that I was home to pip the eggs, the three would have probably been saved. It took 51 days to hatching with maternal incubation.

Congrats on the seven. Don't second guess yourself about the other three. Pipping early may not have made any difference. Some eggs just aren't meant to hatch. Good luck with the feeding trials.

Bart