Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am new to breeding and I have about 7 crested gecko eggs at the moment incubating (1 deflated...so 6). I used to have a reptibator, but was not functional as I bought it from an untrustworthy seller. NOW, I am working with something homemade: Styrofoam container with a heating element coming from the back and 2 fans blowing in on the right and left. I am achieving anywhre from 70 degrees-78 degrees, but it fluxuates alot. Eggs are in plastic containers with vermeculite. MY CONCERN: I havent had any hatch yet. It has been about 2 months since the 1st clutch and no hatches yet. A couple eggs are yellowing, but just a little, the one deflated, and when I check under led, everything looks good. Please, any advice will be appreciated!

The temp flux would be the biggest worry to me. Tends to lend itself to defects and deaths.
I have also not used a fan in a incubator before, as they tend to be more work than worth. I have set a hovabator wafer thermostat lid on a bigger styro box and had that work for a while but the strain did in the wafer after a couple seasons. This year I have a small cooler/heater 'thing' that a friend used before and sold to me. You can see it and get it at Thinkgeek.com for less than the same at other sites.
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Sonya

1.1 Candoia Paulson
2.2 Western Hognose
1.2 Mexican Black King
1.3 Greenish Ratsnake
1.1 Yellow Ratsnake
3.1 Everglades Ratsnake
2.1 Honduran Milksnake
0.1 Mexican Milksnake
1.1 Black Pinesnake
1.2 Sumatran Shortailed Python
1.3 Boa constrictor
2.2 Childrens Python
0.0.1 Green Tree Python
1.0 Irian Jaya Python
0.0.2 Timor Monitor
2.2 Mossy Leaftail Gecko
1.1 African Helmeted olivacea
0.1 Savannah Cat F7
1.1 Sugar Glider
Numerous Dogs, Cats, Birds, Fish pets and fosters
Husband
2.1 teens plus…..
You get the picture.

At the temps you are using for incubation, if any of the eggs are fertile, you will probably be looking at a 75 to 85 day incubation period. The preferred incubation temps for this genus are mid to upper 70’s and temperature fluctuations like you are currently experiencing will not harm Crested Gecko eggs, or most other lizard eggs for that matter. Minor temperature fluctuations are only detrimental to eggs of reptile species that require active thermoregulation of some type by the female. At the preferred incubation temp of between 75 and 80, the eggs will usually hatch at around 70 or 80 days. Also, make sure your vermiculite is damp, but not too wet, as too much moisture can be as bad as too little.

Kelly