Quote Originally Posted by rlditmars View Post
To be honest, I have never measured the surface temp of an egg, but a couple/few degrees difference wouldn't surprise me. I figured I could get temps off the tub side or substrate and that would tell me enough. Also there is a small animal with new eyes in there and I just didn't want to take the chance that I was hitting the egg right where the eye could be. I am probably overly cautious/paranoid compared to others.

I have also started incubating at 87 degrees this year rather than 89 as I have in the past. The thought was that if I had a fluctuation I hoped it wouldn't spike too hot. I think the embryos are more susceptible to abnormalities from high temp spikes versus low temp drops; not that either are optimal but given a choice. It takes a while longer to pip, but I don't cut either so it doesn't make a difference to me. Best of luck to you.
Thanks for all your help and I appreciate yours and everyone's input. It is all reassuring and maybe it's all the nervousness now that hatching is near. You triple check everything bc you feel or anticipate that something may go wrong. I know how you feel about the candling and other incubation issues bc I have seen and read your responses. Thanks for your insight and opinion. I don't cut either. I will update the community on my results.