Rotting eggs please HELP!

SO I had my lesser X normal clutch in an incubator that I have used once before for bearded dragon eggs: I used a 10 gallon fish tank with about 4 inches of water in it with a fish tank heater at the bottom and a saran (sp?) wrap top. The eggs were fine for the first 30 days. I look in today and they are all sludgy and starting to smell. I believe this is happening because the humidity is too high. They are not totally rotted just on thee way. What would you suggest to save these guys, with out spending lots of money on an incubator?

If they are already smelling, they are more than likely dead.

Candle them, and check again. To remove humidity, take the saran wrap off for a little and let the eggs breathe.

For the future, you need to get a trustworthy incubator.

Yep, it sounds like you might be too late for these eggs. Once they get slimy they are more than likely dead. Can you post some pics?

http://i26.tinypic.com/104nt6q.jpg

They look fine to me. You have a little red mold starting which can be taken care of with a qtip and some athlete's foot powder. Otherwise, they look like a couple of clutches I had this season that hatched fine. You are probably smelling the mustiness of that mold. Good luck!

EDIT: I have hatched eggs out fine in an incubator like what you are using. High humidity is good. You just don't want water dripping on the eggs which may have happened with Saran Wrap.

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Originally Posted by kfuentes

http://i26.tinypic.com/104nt6q.jpg

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Fixed the link for you. :gj:

They don't look horrible they can still be saved. Good Luck.

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Originally Posted by kfuentes

What would you suggest to save these guys, with out spending lots of money on an incubator?

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Hi

it is probably the mould you can smell like someone said they may be too wet let some air in for a while
If your not willing to spend cash how will you go on if your snakes become sick??

They don't look as bad as I was expecting, but it looks like they might be starting to turn green. You will know in the next few days for sure. The humidity can't be too high. As long as there is no water touching them eggs should be fine. I think you more than likely had a temp spike. What are you using to control the temps?

What would work better than saran wrap? I had it rubber banded on tight.

The problem is that once a day or two you need to open the saran wrap up and let fresh air in and dry off the moisture that has accumulated on the wrap. If you do not do this the air will become stagnant and if you do not sry off the wrap then droplets will appear and if they drop onto the eggs then they can be ruined. What you are using is called a closed egg box, meaning air is not being circulated, but you still need to allow fresh air in regularly. Todd

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Originally Posted by toddmbecker1234

The problem is that once a day or two you need to open the saran wrap up and let fresh air in and dry off the moisture that has accumulated on the wrap. If you do not do this the air will become stagnant and if you do not sry off the wrap then droplets will appear and if they drop onto the eggs then they can be ruined. What you are using is called a closed egg box, meaning air is not being circulated, but you still need to allow fresh air in regularly. Todd

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Not necessarily. I don't open my egg boxes from the first day of incubation until the last couple of weeks when I start opening it every few days or so. I don't have any moisture dripping on the eggs though.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Not necessarily. I don't open my egg boxes from the first day of incubation until the last couple of weeks when I start opening it every few days or so. I don't have any moisture dripping on the eggs though.

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Curious, are your egg boxes totally without holes? Most people i know use egg boxes with one or two holes in them, but I know of a few that use the sealed boxes, but they all do an air exchange. Todd

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Originally Posted by toddmbecker1234

Curious, are your egg boxes totally without holes? Most people i know use egg boxes with one or two holes in them, but I know of a few that use the sealed boxes, but they all do an air exchange. Todd

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No holes. I use tall boxes, no holes, with lids and Glad Press n Seal.

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Originally Posted by toddmbecker1234

Curious, are your egg boxes totally without holes? Most people i know use egg boxes with one or two holes in them, but I know of a few that use the sealed boxes, but they all do an air exchange. Todd

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I do the same thing. No holes, a tight seal, and I don't open the boxes very much at all. This was my last clutch the day before they started to pip.

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...0d9a39ba8b.jpg

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Originally Posted by toddmbecker1234

The problem is that once a day or two you need to open the saran wrap up and let fresh air in and dry off the moisture that has accumulated on the wrap. If you do not do this the air will become stagnant and if you do not sry off the wrap then droplets will appear and if they drop onto the eggs then they can be ruined. What you are using is called a closed egg box, meaning air is not being circulated, but you still need to allow fresh air in regularly. Todd

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You really don't have to open the box ever. About half of my clutches this year were never even looked at after they were placed in the incubator until they were at cutting day. Even had a couple pip early and the box had not been opened in 55 days. My boxes are totally air tight.

That is interesting and good to know. See been doing this stuff for over 20 years(keeping not breeding) and still eagerly learn new stuff every day.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by toddmbecker1234

The problem is that once a day or two you need to open the saran wrap up and let fresh air in and dry off the moisture that has accumulated on the wrap. If you do not do this the air will become stagnant and if you do not sry off the wrap then droplets will appear and if they drop onto the eggs then they can be ruined. What you are using is called a closed egg box, meaning air is not being circulated, but you still need to allow fresh air in regularly. Todd

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Originally Posted by pfan151

You really don't have to open the box ever. About half of my clutches this year were never even looked at after they were placed in the incubator until they were at cutting day. Even had a couple pip early and the box had not been opened in 55 days. My boxes are totally air tight.

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Agreed. As long as you make sure there's no condensation dripping on the eggs, you never have to open the egg box itself.

Like most people are saying, it should not be a problem!

Daniel

I don't want to Hijack but what precautions can be made to prevent condensation from falling on the eggs?

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Originally Posted by RhacHead

I don't want to Hijack but what precautions can be made to prevent condensation from falling on the eggs?

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If I am getting a lot of condensation I set my boxes up with one side sitting on a pencil so it is slightly unlevel. This causes any condensation to roll to the side of the tub and drip down the sides instead of straight down on top of the eggs.

Hi,

I'm still using one of those "tankubators" but I do not put saran wrap over the egg boxes at all - in fact I tend not to put any lids on whatsoever until I think they may be due to hatch and then I use lids with mesh panels.

The heater and water in the bottom provide all the humidity you need and leaving the tops open means there is tons of air in the incubator.

Here's what mine looks like at the moment.

http://satanswombat.googlepages.com/...009clutch4.jpg

I fully intend to upgrade to a fridge style incubator as soon as I can though.


dr del