Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Have you ever seen this one? No real "odor".. not like the others anyway!

It just 'blew it's top'.. how you see it is how I found it in the incubator. Although I didn't mark them.. (now I have) I'm guessing this is from late October.. so it isn't fertile. I found one yesterday exploded.. that had a 3/8" embryo in it! Could it be too humid.. although I don't spritz them.. I do have small water dishes in the incubator.. and temps. in the mid to low 80's range.. now. These "earlier" eggs have gone thru several temp. changes due to thermo malfunction in 'older' incubator. However 2 have managed to hatch and are doing well. The first has a little "wrinkle" in it's carapace.. maybe from high temps (?)

Wattaya think???

Terry

Unspoiled eggs which crack open generally have been exposed to too much moisture. However, from the setup you describe, it doesn't seem that the egg would have been too wet, so it is a mystery to me. Was your vermiculte or incubation medium very damp? I had a great number of Star Tortoise eggs do the same thing until I started incubating them in totally dry vermiculite and sprinkling them very lightly twice a week. Don't know if I would recommend that technique for Redfoot eggs, as I have no experience with them, but you could try it with half the eggs from one clutch to see how it compares to what you are doing now.

I've never had a redfoot egg get too wet, although I am sure it is possible. I have had infertile eggs explode after several months. Not a pretty sight or smell. The crease in your hatchling is normal and usually results from them being folded up in the egg. It should gradually smooth out as they grow. If redfoots are incubated with humidity that is too low, the carapace is often slightly deformed (off-center when viewed from the front). This usually corrects itself as growth continues. The egg with the dead hatchling could be due to the temp fluctuations, esp. if it got too high. Otherwise, sometimes you just get a dud.

I agree.. I don't see how they could get too "humid".. they nest in mud. I did read someplace that eggs may take on too much moisture (?).. combined with too high incubation temps and they may explode (?)

All of my eggs from November.. on ..look real good and I'm keeping them in the low to mid 80's. I've lost at least 25% of my eggs since late July.. and you can see why I don't want to lose anymore.

That first hatchling is looking more "normal" each day!

Look close at the mud.. she's in.. Thanks Dan..

Terry

whats that little thing that looks like a foot?

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rouen it probly is since its almost 85% grown (at least in the egg)

Thanks for asking Rouen.. that's maybe a piece of shell or Vermeculite (sp?) In fact have an egg 'leaking' right now.. I'm beginning to think it may be "humidity related".. as dicussed earlier.. so I've raised the humidity and temps to 85-86 F.. hopefully the 4 clutches I got in February will appreciate the changes.

I had 4 females "hit" within 3 days of each other.. should be a busy August!

Love those "Reds"..

Terry
Bless GOD America

These girls of mine are usually on a "90 day cycle". One surprised me after 3 in Feb. (Sis 2/21).. with 5 more the other night!!!

I have all the eggs now in damp Vermiculite.. and I just checked and I have another "PIP".. pics soon..

Terry
Bless GOD America

Since I haven't marked my eggs until recently.. this "pip" could be as early as late Nov. - (probably Oct. actually) I'm basing this on the size of this egg.. my younger/smaller Colombian's have been laying smaller eggs.. see an example in prior pic of 19? eggs - AC & CII are Colombo eggs.. others are Suriname/Guyana heritage.

Terry
Bless GOD America

Eggs "exploding" is well-known to bird breeders like myself. What happens is, an infertile egg or an egg where the embryo died in the shell will begin to grow bacteria that feeds on the dead yolk or dead embryo. The bacteria produce waste that forms gasses and sometimes the gasses produce enough pressure inside the egg to cause the shell to rupture.

It seems to be less common in reptile eggs because of the leathery, pliable shells that can withstand more pressure from within.

Thanks Tortoisehead,

Stands to reason about the bacteria.. several of mine have "leaked".. although tortoise eggs are more 'brittle' (mine anyway).. opening up in layers!

Terry