Collapsing Eggs!

[JulieInNJ]

So my day old eggs are starting to collapse and I can't figure out why. They looked great last night but this morning they were collapsing.

My vermiculite is at a 3:2 ratio with the water (so it's certainly damp enough) and the eggs are on a light diffuser. They're the only eggs in my mini-fridge incubator and the temps are steady at 89 degrees, using a proportional thermostat and a bunch of water bottles. I also have an open pan of water at the bottom for additional humidity.

The only thing I can think is that the fan was drying them out, so around midday, I put the lid on the tub.

Any thoughts/suggestions? I wanted to take pics, but I didn't want to mess with them again.

[BallsUnlimited]

keep the lid on the egg box and you will be fine. The fan is deff robbing the eggs of moisture

[JulieInNJ]

That was my thought too. I'm glad it's such an easy fix!

[RichsBallPythons]

If your using the substratless method where eggs are on the light diffuser, you need to add a lot more water than 3:2. Since the eggs arent in the substrate absorbing the moisture you need more to fill up the tubs ambient humidity

If not you will run into dry eggs very very fast. I have my vermiculite soaked to see puddles of water

[JulieInNJ]

Adding more water now!!! Thanks, Rich!

[RichsBallPythons]

Adding more water now!!! Thanks, Rich!

Be sure that the light diffuser doesnt sink, If it does double up on the light diffuser or put in some spacers in the 4 corners to support it

[JulieInNJ]

It bubbled up through the diffuser a bit but never came over top. I'll keep an eye on the eggs - any idea how long it will take them to reabsorb?

[RichsBallPythons]

They should start to pop back out in 24 hours or less. Just leave them be.

I rarely ever add water to the tubs from the initial soaking on the day their set in. You probably wont need to add more either unless you have the fan blowing hard right on the tub.

[ImBooBy]

Keep lids on your egg boxes. there's no point adding right amount of water to medium if you dont keep the lid on. All the water will evaporate at that temp and you will have dry medium. I like to do 8:10 ratio but thats just personal preference

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

A tip to prevent the light diffuser from sinking is to run to your local craft store and buy up some sheets of plastic cross-stitch canvas. They are incredibly cheap and easy to cut with scissors. Cut to fit the inside of your egg box end to end. Put this under the light diffuser on top of the substrate like this...


This way you can make it very wet without sinkage.

I need to take another picture of one of my egg boxes since the only one I have fast access to that shows the plastic cross-stitch canvas also has a hatchling in an egg in it lol!