surpise ! my BP laid eggs I've never done this

Hi Everyone,
I purchased a pair of female balls in july of 09 and the breeder did tell me he mated with his lesser I did have them checked and they were not gravid at that time but later learned they can store sperm for a LONG time surprise! I found 3 eggs in my 40G breeder yesterday and freaked ran right out and bought a hova-bator I set up a tupperware container with vermeculite and put the lid on there is a couple small holes humidity is at about 80-85%
temps are 87 degrees the eggs however were dented when I found them they are white though. Will they plump back? One of the eggs looked wet on top maybe she urinated on them in the tank to raise humidity? Am I doing everything ok any advice?

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You want as close to 100% humidity as you can get. They are dented because they are not humid enough and they're drying out... They should be plump at this stage.. Try to bump up the humidity asap.

Correct me if I am wrong.

This is a dumb question but how do I raise the humidity? I heard I cannot mist or get water on the eggs at this stage?

Hi,

Is the tupperware container with the eggs in well sealed? No holes in it or anything?

You can spray in the corners of the egg box to raise the humidity of the vermiculite but you need to be carefull not to get it too wet as that can kill the eggs.


dr del

Use glad press n Seal to seal the egg box to help keep the humidity in the the box.

Especially since you are new at this, I would go with the no substrate method. There is much less to have to worry about getting right. You can pretty much just set the box up and leave it alone until hatching time. If you do a search here for it you should find plenty of info. Make sure you have a reliable t-stat and thermometer on the eggs. Good luck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Is the tupperware container with the eggs in well sealed? No holes in it or anything?

You can spray in the corners of the egg box to raise the humidity of the vermiculite but you need to be carefull not to get it too wet as that can kill the eggs.


dr del

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The rookie needs to be very careful with no holes. More than one rookie has suffocated their unborn snakes because they didn't give the eggs fresh air later in incubation. BG suggests at least one small hole for all rookies. BG uses two himself all the time, but he knows many that use none. BG just doesn't want to risk suffocation.

I have 2 holes in the container with the lid on can I put a condiment cup with a little water in the box to raise humidity without wetting the vermeculite more? or is this a no no ? Thanks for you patience with me as this is all knew and unexpected!

Were they dented in when you found them or did the denting develop after you put them in the tub? I think it is probably likely that they were just with the female a little while so they dried out a bit. Be careful with trying to do too much to add humidity. Wet eggs are far worse off than eggs that are a little dry.

They were dented in a little when I found them in with the mom. Would it be a mistake to add a small condiment cup of water on one side in the container so I am not wetting the vermec to much?

Hi,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Big Gunns

The rookie needs to be very careful with no holes. More than one rookie has suffocated their unborn snakes because they didn't give the eggs fresh air later in incubation. BG suggests at least one small hole for all rookies. BG uses two himself all the time, but he knows many that use none. BG just doesn't want to risk suffocation.

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That honestly never occured to me. :O

I can't leave the poor things alone long enough for it to be a problem. :oops:

Between candling and checking for changes the poor things will probably come out hating the sight of me. :rofl:

Day 48 and twitching. :gj: :rolleye2:


dr del

i found placing a wet ( not soaking wet) but damp paper towel on the eggs will help a little, since the towel will wick up mositure and the eggs can asorb some from the towel. another trick I use ( takes a few days to do this ) was place a heating pad on low under the hobuvator and have the mixure wet (with a light disffure on top to prevent the eggs from making direct contact with the wet verm) this produces a lot more humidtiy for me. I had ot tilt the lid at an angle to keep the condisation off the eggs ( reason I place a paper towel on top and check it often ) I also had to add water every so often ot keep it from drying out. ( right now I got mine set up on the desk and it run dry 3 times in the last 2 months while waiting for the eggs to be laid this year.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,



That honestly never occured to me. :O

I can't leave the poor things alone long enough for it to be a problem. :oops:

Between candling and checking for changes the poor things will probably come out hating the sight of me. :rofl:

Day 48 and twitching. :gj: :rolleye2:


dr del

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That's why Big Gunns is paid the big money to be here.:D

Sorry....BG forgot where he was. This is BG's court ordered community service snake forum. A word of advice to all BG fans. When a leeetle cop that was picked on his whole life by people like Big Gunns pulls you over and gives you a ticket. Don't tell him he looks like r2d2 with a badge, gun and a hat.:D