denting ball python eggs

[dr del]

Hi,

I think it's too wet - especially since they are buried in it.

The best way is to mix it by weight - 100g of water for every 100g of vermiculite.

No water coming out when squeezed is half the test - it needs to hold the shape but come apart really easily when you rub it with your thumb or fingers.

You might want to try substrateless if you can get some light grating to sit the eggs on to support them above the vermiculite.




dr del

[blind_skater]

It holds it shapes and crumbles when i rub my fingers thru it, do u think they will make it or have yall seen worse eggs make it? And in that pic u posted how long have they been in the incubator?

[dr del]

Hi,

That pic was before I put them in the incubator.

I'd definitely try and remove them from the substrate and sit them on something if you can - how are you sealing that tub so the humidity doesn't just escape?

Also you might want to double check the temps with a digital thermometer just to be sure.

I don't know anything about the brand of incubator you mentioned so any info might be helpful.


dr del

[blind_skater]

The only way the humidity could get out is thru the 4 holes on the top but i covered them so it cant escape. I have been checking the temp/humidity alot its staying at the same spot. I opened it once already today to add more water around it. The incubator came from ace hardware it was for chicken eggs.

[BHReptiles]

How are you measuring the temps for the eggs? A chicken egg and ball python egg will need to be incubated at different temperatures. If the temp isn't monitored properly, that could be part of your problem.

If your temps are fine, it could just be that your humidity is low. Try putting some press-n-seal on top to trap in even more humidity. Those analog dials are junk.

[blind_skater]

I have the temp at 89 and the humidity at 100% and i have a temp/humidity gauge right beside the eggs.

[SlitherinSisters]

Ooo, yeah they are too dry for sure. Using substrate can be really frustrating because it is a bit hard to get just right. I go substrateless for that very reason. They shouldn't look that dented until a week, maybe 2 before they hatch.

Here's a picture of my eggs on day 52, roughly a week before they are due to hatch


The rest of the time they look like this, they might get a really small dent, but they stay pretty pump and round till the end.

[blind_skater]

I have already opened it once today should i attempt to open it again to put them on the wire mesh on top of the verimulite? So are the eggs to far gone now since they r dented that bad already?

[SlitherinSisters]

I have already opened it once today should i attempt to open it again to put them on the wire mesh on top of the verimulite? So are the eggs to far gone now since they r dented that bad already?

I would take them out and put light diffuser/egg crate over the verm. Eggs are highly sensitive to being too wet or too dry. My first year I put my eggs on the substrate and got them too wet, I got them off the substrate after 2 weeks, but 4 of the eggs died between that time and when they were supposed to hatch. The rest of the babies were too deformed to make it.

Also, when you say wire mesh, what are you going to use? Metal will rust.

[blind_skater]

Its the wire mesh that came with the incubator.