Update on the Mystery Egg

[Kristy]

Okay, so short story for those of you who haven't read my previous threads.

Picked up a female crestie from a pet store a while back. She was young, and housed with several others including males.
She must have been bred, retained sperm. She laid 3 clutches of infertile eggs between sept. and Nov. Then laid One fertile egg in early december.

Well that mystery egg, (called mystery egg because I don't know who the father is). Is now on day 60 of incubation at 76 degrees. It is getting HUGE compared to freshly laid eggs I have from another female, its also starting to get little stretch marks.

I finally decided to candle it, you can't see anything. Babies too big.

I truly didn't expect this egg to make it this far. Hopefully it hatches out a healthy baby.

I do have one question for the seasoned Rhac breeders.. Emily, Laura I know you have a few cuties too.

What are the signs of hatching? I have been watching this egg really close.

About how long before hatching do the eggs start getting very noticeably bigger? I assume several weeks?

Are there any other signs of it getting closer?


Oh and my daughter, every morning comes running into my room screaming.. DID THEY HATCH? DID THEY HATCH.

Its not easy explaining to a 3 year old that Mommy doesn't know when they are going to hatch. She just gives me this blank stare like " How can you NOT know"

[Laooda]

Hahaha!!! I can't WAIT to see pictures of "Mystery"!!!!

Usually just about the time I look at the egg and think..."That looks horrible! There's no way it's still good"... (off color yellow) I find a little monster looking at me like Also, I've seen 1-2 days of condensation close to the end.. just like BP's!

I bet Emily has more tips, I've only had 4 clutches hatch so far..

But man, you wanna talk CUTE!

[Kristy]

Thanks

I know I can't wait to see what this baby looks like. This egg has all of us on our toes.
My mom calls me every morning to see if she has a new "grandchild" yet lol. She is really excited too because we are going to boise for a weekend and she gets to hatchling sit and egg sit lol.

The egg looks pretty good. Its white, no mold, plump, and has about the consistency of a chicken egg, except a little teeny bit softer.

[mlededee]

The eggs start to grow right away, they just grow more and faster toward the end. Sometimes they sweat during the 24-48 hours before hatchling but most of mine don't. Sweating is really the only sign that hatchling is very near--the stretch marks sometimes become visible but that can happen just due to the egg growing and doesn't really signal an impending hatch. I wish there was a definitive way to know, but there really isn't. Incubating at a consistent 76 degrees incubation times are around like 68 days, so I'd say you have a little longer.

One thing to note, if you will be taking the eggs for a ride in the car they might just pop on out for you during the trip (assuming they are ready). I took 4 eggs that were due to hatch soon to Daytona with me last August--the vibrations from the car stimulated 3 of the 4 to hatch during the ride. The 4th hatched 2 days later.

[Kristy]

Thanks

I figured it was only the beginning stages. At least we are getting somewhere though lol. Other than that no changes. Still looks really good.

My sons 5th birthday is on the 13th, that will be about the estimated time. It would be neat if they hatched on his birthday.

We won't be leaving until late march. So the eggs that Post it laid could be ready but that may still be pretty early. Those are they only ones I would need to her to really keep an eye on. If Post it lays more, they wouldn't even be close to ready.
I already gave her the rundown on feeding and misting. She is fine with everything. As long as none of it has anything to do with the Tokay gecko

[GirDance]

Make sure you update with pics when 'mystery' does hatch, I'm excited for you now...

PS... Post It is a great name... lol

[Kristy]

Oh trust me I will post lots of pics. I am a picture junkie lol

Thanks, My husband names all of the animals. I try to come up with names, and fail miserably

[GirDance]

Thanks, My husband names all of the animals. I try to come up with names, and fail miserably

Same here... lol... Same here... Or at least, his names are the ones that always end up sticking more...

He thought it was funny to introduce the snake to everyone as 'the kitty' ... And then I started calling her kitty, then everyone started calling her kitty... And voila - renamed to kitty... lol