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So life around here has been very hectic. In June we moved to a brand new house. It was a very involved lengthy move for us and all the animals. The animals spent some time in the unfinished basement and then in the garage. In the garage, temps got to near 100. The Uros seemed to love it. Now they are in the basement and settling in. About 10 days ago, I noticed one of the Sudanese females looked very thin, but thought nothing of it. Two days later we found some dried up eggs in the nest box, very sad that I missed them. I think there was a total of 7. Nearly a week later, I found a very freshly laid egg on the hotspot. It was nice and white with the red embryo visible. I was so excited. Luckily I had the incubator set up and ready. I placed it in a container with hatch-rite, as Doug Dix explains. The container is sealed with a very small amount of condensation on the lid, the temp is 92F. I peeked at it today and it isn't as white as it was when I placed it in the container. It is also slightly indented. Is this normal? Is this a sign that the substrate is too dry? I am a worrier by nature and want to get it right. Am I stressing over nothing? Any suggestions?

It looks like it is starting to grow mold. HELP! I know it was fertile. How do I keep any future eggs from doing the same? I am bummed. What can I do different next time?

Hey Tim sorry for the late reply but it seems that eggs laid out in the open are usually doomed from the get go. One of my philbyi eggs was not buried but looked great when I found it just as yours did but it quickly molded. So there is probably not much you could have done with it anyway. At this point I would just hope the female got all the eggs out of her and she returns to breeding condition so you can try again next season. If there was a bit of condensation I would definately say the eggs was not too dry it was just doomed from the start.
Tom

Hi,

I agree with Tom on this one......

I had several species lay eggs outside the nesting area,and none of those eggs made it while the looked okay. They all went bad within a week or so. While eggs of the same clutch that were laid in the nesting box or nesting area all hatched......

gr. Kamiel

Thanks for the replies and input. The scientist in me sure would like to know what it is about buring an egg or laying it in a nest box that keeps them from molding. It is the craziest thing. I hope to have success next time. I guess the tricky thing is with Uros is trying to figure out how to get them to lay in a nesting site/box. Hmm?????

Tim,

I had the same experience this year 2 of my females laid there eggs out in the open and they failed. The one that partly buried hatched.

2 things I do to combat mold is microwave the incubation substrate for 20 seconds before adding the eggs and put something under the end of the incubation box to make it un-level, this allows the condensation to roll off the ends instead of dripping on the eggs. Condensation dripping on the eggs will mold them as well.

Thanks for the input Troy. I will certainly try both when I get any other eggs. What is it about them burying the eggs? How puzzling.