Maternal incubation problem

[locolobito]

It's my 1st clutch and unexpected at that. Started with 4 eggs, lost 2. Today I checked on mamma and to check humidity box. She was not on eggs. What does that mean? I candled last 2 eggs. 1 is dark but shell is white. 1 has nice veins and can see a lil body. Should I just go ahead and incubate last egg?

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[bcr229]

If Mom isn't incubating the eggs and you have an incubator available then yes take the eggs from Mom and incubate them.

[locolobito]

If Mom isn't incubating the eggs and you have an incubator available then yes take the eggs from Mom and incubate them.

Got incubator plugged in and both eggs in tub. Now to wait and see what happens

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[locolobito]

Now looking for opinion #3. bcr229 said to put eggs in incubator. I did. Talked to hobbyist and she said to cut them cause it's past 60 days. Cut or let life happen? Help please.

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[Warren_Booth]

I would have left them with the female. It is not uncommon for females to leave eggs for periods of time. Particularly later into incubation as the babies are large and generating heat through metabolism. She would likely have returned to them.

Regarding cutting... why? Maternal incubation is often cooler than the 90oF that people seem to love to incubate their eggs at. What was the average temperature of the eggs while she incubated them. I would guess somewhere around 86oF. As such, this could result in eggs going past 60 days before pipping. Leave them be and they should do fine on their own.

Warren

[zina10]

I think you found the eggs on July 12th correct? And the female could have laid them up to a week before you found them?

That puts you over 60 days.

I don't think it caused any issues removing the eggs from the mom. Either way, its done. Like Warren says, they could be going over 60 days because of maternal incubation, but you are at the least a couple to a few days over, if I am counting right.

For your own peace of mind, you could cut a tiny slit into each egg, or cut a tiny v shape. Just so that the hatchlings have no issue finding their way out if they cannot cut the shell themselves. I am NOT a fan of cutting a huge hole or giant window, just to see whats in that egg, though. In case they need a couple more days, you could be introducing bacteria in there or scare the hatchling into tangling itself up in its cord.

How do the eggs look? Have they deflated some yet?

Please keep us up to date on how things are going

[locolobito]

Rack temp with back heat, hot spot is 87.5. Ambient is 83.

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[locolobito]

Found eggs on 7/11. Laid at least a week before found. Started with 4 now down to 2

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[locolobito]

Yes, they have deflated some

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[zina10]

Hm.

If she laid a week before 7/11 that would put the eggs at 75 days, correct? (I have a bad sinus infection and I'm out of it, so recount, LOL)

I have never heard of them going that long, but perhaps a quick google search may help. Are you sure she laid at least a week before you found the eggs? Even at 68 days, I think at this point I would make a small "v" slit, peel back just enough to check on color and smell of the fluid and whether red veins are still in there. Then if all look well, put the eggs back.

You "could" take a good look at the hatchlings, but at this point, they are either alive or not. If alive, the less you bother them, the better. IMHO, anyway

Good luck, I hope all is well with the little ones..