slight dimpling at day 31..

[Jessb]

We just checked our eggs, and we noticed a few eggs have some slight dimpling, and today is day 31. (this is our first clutch) I did some research and i think we are going to add a little water to dampen the substrate a little more. I was just wondering if this is normal-ish, or if i should be really concerned..? I was under the impression that they shouldn't start dimpling until about a week before hatching... any advice would be great. Thanks!

[M&NSnakeDen]

Do you have them in a completely sealed container? Any air holes in the tub?
Have you tried the glad press & seal?
Also, do you have them directly on top of the substrate or do you have them sitting on a plastic grid (egg crate I believe its called)?

[Jessb]

Yes they are in a shoebox tote with a lid, no air holes and they are on hatch rite, no egg crate.

[M&NSnakeDen]

Yes they are in a shoebox tote with a lid, no air holes and they are on hatch rite, no egg crate.

I'd suggest adding a layer of press & seal under the lid. Maybe also adding a small wad of wet paper towel in the corner of the tub away from the eggs to bump up humidity a bit. Adding too much water to the substrate (if the eggs are on it directly) can cause issues/molding, so if these steps don't help, I'd suggest putting them on egg crate before adding water to the substrate.

Keeping in mind, I've never bred any of my snakes, so this is solely based on my forum readings lol.

[Jessb]

we added a little water, around the eggs, not on them. Going to check on them tomorrow... hopefully no more dimpling for at least 2 weeks!

[hig]

Does the press and seal drip on the eggs when you are opening up the tub?

[Jessb]

we're not using press and seal, we just have a small tote with the lid, and we try to be pretty gentle when we open it so that no drips happen.

[M&NSnakeDen]

If you put something under one end of the tote, so it's on a slight angle, the water will run downward and not drip onto your babes

[elduki]

It's ok to spray water on the eggs. Not to much and make sure that water doesn't collect on the dimple portion of the egg.

[Oombootoo]

You were right to add a little water, and not on the eggs. Usually with hatch right you have to because it comes pre moisturized and no matter how well it is sealed you can still get some evaporation. Try not to add too much water and if you weighed the substrate before putting the eggs in then you probably should research the moisture content (water content) in the substrate. but half way the through the water you added should be enough to Keep the humidity at the right level until hatching. You don't have to open the box everyday if it is see through but you should at least check on them every day to make sure the dimpling stops.