dented eggs...

[Ginevive]

Here's an update on the clutch. 6 of the eggs were defective; they basically rotted frrom the inside out, were smelling bad and were definately deaders. But two are still white and bright... how can I stop them from denting like this? The temps are fine and I am concerned with over-moisturizing them.
I made an incubator out of a styro cooler; using flexwatt under the shoebox r-maid full of vermiculite, and also some in the inside of the cooler; the temps all read 90 degrees. What am I doing wrong here?

[Ginevive]

Any advice? I am really worried here.. I can't find any good sites with useful info on this.

[kavmon]

if you grab a clump of the vermiculite and squeeze it, does it drip water? does it stay together in a clump? basically you want to be able to squeeze a clump of it and it not drip water. but it also has to stay together in a clump and not fall apart easily. what day are the eggs on? if too dry you can add a small amount of water and mix into the box, try in the corners if you need to add water. when you candle the eggs do they show alot of veins? how is the eggbox sealed? if not a good seal you might want to use saran wrap or plastic and make sure the top is sealed good.







vaughn

[Ginevive]

It sticks together, but does not drip water when squeezed. I am really paranoid about over "watering" them; but it could be because the other 6 eggs died off, and I was afraid it was due to overwatering, when they were probably defective from the beginning as they "rotted" from the inside and turned green.
These two candle awesomely; red veins all over the place. Is it really Ok to have the shoebox airtight? The styro cooler they're in, is airtight, but the lid to the r-maid isn't..

[JimiSnakes]

Jungle Carpets do that too. I don't have any advice o preventing it.

[Wild Bill]

red veins all over the place. Is it really Ok to have the shoebox airtight? The styro cooler they're in, is airtight, but the lid to the r-maid isn't..

I am guessing that is why they are drying out is because your container isn't air tight. Humidity can't build up if there is an airflow. It is better to have to open an airtight container once a week to let in air, than to have too much air flowing through the container.

[jkobylka]

How many days into incubation are you? If you have less than 3 weeks left, don't sweat it at all, it is completely normal.

If your just getting started, just raise the moisure lvl in the container but wetting the substrate a little more and putting an air tight lid on it. They look fine. My money says they will hatch just fine for you.

Justin Kobylka

PS if you put an airtight lid on, be sure to open it up every couple days and allow for air exchange.

[Ginevive]

Yay! I solved everything. I just placed a heavy glass panel on top of the r-maid instead of its non-airtight snap-on lid. I modified the heat tape a little and now the temp is a steady 95 degrees all around. (I had trouble with the substrate being warmer than the air around it.. silly me.)
Should I just go out and get a Hovabator though? I have not had the means to do so but can get there today.
The eggs were hatched out on May 19th. So that makes them.. 15 days in.

[jkobylka]

I would not have them incubating at any higher than 90 degrees. 95 is too hot, particularly if you have the temp spike any higher.

Justin

[Ginevive]

Oh, I was told to go with the mid 90s (think it was on Kingsnake, I'll have to look back.) It is funn but it's really tough to find a site online that has any sort of step-by-step how-tos on egg incubating. I wish I had the chance to research this before I needed to do this sorta crash-course educating thing now, but I honestly thought my female was the male of my pair, and didn't think I had eggs on the way (I was getting ready to take him to the vet that week, thinking he was bloated and worried that he hadn't defecated in too long of a time.)