Distressed Eggs...

[imvaad]

Hi All,

If anyone can help me out here with advise, or a conclusion, it would
be greatly appreciated.

My Spotted Python had her first clutch of eggs the other day. I was
expecting them, so went and did the appropriate research, purchased a
Hova-bator incubator, used vermiculite/water mix, kept humidity high
(at least i thought i did), regularly check with 3 thermometers to
regulate a temp of 30-32, and now only 5days after my eggs went in.

Attached image is of the eggs as they stand now.

Are they still alive? I heard the caving in is due to lack of
humidity, but i've been keeping it between 90-100%.

I've now been misting the cage as i heard this can help fertile eggs
retain their full form again?

I 'candled' the one on top the other night, which is the worst looking in
my opinion, and it showed definite signs of blood vessels along the egg.

They are still very white, and have not hardened up. I just can't
tell, i don't have the experience or knowledge, but all signs other
than their collapsed state say they are living?

Thank you to all in advance...

Iva.

[MrBredli]

Your vermiculite looks too wet judging by that pic. How much water did you mix in? I'd get them straight out nd into a much, much drier mix. But it may already be too late?

[pike1]

They dont look too bad yet,I've had eggs nearly folded in half that have still hatched fine.Dont like the vermiculite though,I haven't used it in years.I wouldn't be spraying them too much though, when those dents fill with water you might be in trouble,I usually push in the sides and the top pops back out and dosen't allow condensation to pool on the eggs.With all that spraying the vermiculite is probably too wet now,you only need to spray when there isn't any condensation on the lid and sides.Give them time and they may pop back out but should be fine even if they stay like that,only time will tell.

[Sdaji]

Are those aquarium thermometers the only ones you're using?

[Ramsayi]

They are way too wet.Best to mix another batch of vermic and start over provided it isnt already too late.The eggs look wet is it becasue they have been sprayed? If not and they are sweating then they are already dead in which case you will know in a day or three.

[wood_nymph]

Originally Posted by Sdaji

Are those aquarium thermometers the only ones you're using?

yeah aqurium thermometers realy won't be that acurate they're designed to measure water temp that they are completely submerged in not air temp. you'd be better off getting one of the ditial thermomesters with a probe on the end

[method]

He has got a normal therm probe in the middle of the clump

[waruikazi]

Eggs that i have had that are either infertile or died did not deflate. They stayed the normal egg shape but turned yellowy green got all sweaty and smelled really bad.

[imvaad]

Thanks all it's all good advise.

I have a probe thermometer in the middle of the clutch, and use this as my main source for regulating the temp.

So the general consensus is that they are too wet, and here i am spraying more moisture into the container. Clever!...

And yes the egg's were wet in the photograph because i had just sprayed the incubator prior to taking the shot. They dry out pretty quickly.


Thanks all, you may have saved several lives yet.

[childreni_440]

70% humidity i find works the best.

[falconyi]

with my limited experience, you'd better not make the water drop on the eggs when you spraying the container.

[Moreliaman]

easiest way to know if youve got the water right, grab a clump of vermiculite and squeeze it, if water drips out then its too wet, like others have already mentioned, ive had eggs that have sunken like that & theyve still hatched, if you get the mixture right asap you may be lucky.
Good luck.