Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I think I made it fairly clear in my previous post, but just in case....

I don't put holes in the containers.
As Gregg pointed out, if there are no holes, it's important to open the containers slowly every day or two to prevent the vacuum effect damaging the eggs.
I personally haven't experienced that, but Gregg says it's a real concern, so better to err on the side of caution.

Also, my containers are fairly protected from flies being in closed fridges.
Needless to say, one should immediately remove all debris that might attract them. One fly can lay a lot of eggs so it's important to be vigilant.

I have had a ZERO fly problem since I adopted this approach, over 3 years with hundreds of eggs.

I would rather have geckos or small toads eat them. Cause I not going to change my setup because of those flys and I am not anal retentive enough to go around cleaning everything. The flys rarely if ever harm healthy eggs.
What eats them?

Hi,

Its easy to avoid if you have only a few clutches as caracal pointed out, but if you have hundreds of eggs in a room or closet (at the same time), they can give you a run for your money. During the warm season I have included those hanging, sticky fly strips in both my caging and incubator area of my building. They work through random contact, not necessarily chemical attraction, for all flies and moths. For a particular egg box that has a dead egg in an un-removable position, deep in the clutch, I cut a strip and leave it right in the egg box. A strip of duct tape sticky side up also works in the box. In both cases, not because it necessarily attracts them, but because they walk over every millimeter of the interior of an occupied egg box and they will eventually get stuck, hopefully before their larva cut holes in the bottom of you good eggs, which they can and will do. They seem to be especially fond of diamond python eggs in my building. Ever pick up a clutch of 16 fertile dp eggs, only to notice albumen oozing out of a cut in the bottom of every egg that was resting beneath the surface of the perlite? Not fun. Good topic though.

Will

I did have hundreds of eggs in the room.
It's been very easy to keep them away from the eggs with this approach.

That having been said, the fly paper is a great recommendation.

I like the duct tape thing. Its not really normal around here, normally dry, but its monsoon season and hot and humid with all manner of insects everywhere.

don't know if you have commented on this yet, but sounds weird pantyhose over the egg box prevents flies. difficult to get into egg box, but I don't mess with my eggs until they hatch anyway.