My California desert tortoise has laid 10 eggs. I have them in an incubator, with vermiculite and a bowl of water for moisture. I notice some appear clear while others are turning dark. The eggs were laid 7/27 and today is 8/7. I also notice a smell when I lift the lid to let the air refresh....
HELP?!
Thanks!
P.S. I have five desert tortoises, one I've had for 45 years! I don't have experience with the eggs though as I have only had the female about 10 years and no eggs have ever hatched. I was hopeful we did everything right this time....
Have you candled them? My incubator has a very slight 'damp' smell because of the high humidity but nothing rancid.
(08-08-2010 09:11 AM)tortoise_dude Wrote: [ -> ]Have you candled them? My incubator has a very slight 'damp' smell because of the high humidity but nothing rancid.
I will try candling tonight - tried once and didn't see much - no shapes only pink or dark fluid...?
Maybe the smell is only damp vs. rancid, I'll get another opinion on that from someone else in the family!
Hi Allie. I don't think the smell could be bad eggs it's to soon for that. By now they should look fertile. What temp are you incubating at and what is the humidity in the incubator.
Pink/dark sounds good. They usually show up as white or yellow when infertile.
If you cande them next week or so there should be some veins showing
(08-08-2010 10:00 PM)tortoise_dude Wrote: [ -> ]Pink/dark sounds good. They usually show up as white or yellow when infertile.
If you cande them next week or so there should be some veins showing
Thanks for all of the input, I really appreciate the support. Here's a pic...
The temp is 88 and I keep that white bowl partially filled with water for humidity, but I don't know what the % is. My family smelled it too and said it's part damp and part rancid
So....tonight we're candling! I read online that they shouldn't be moved or touched so candle with a bright light while they are stationary. Sound good?
Allie
Hi Allie. I never move my eggs when i candle them. Just shine your torch on them.
So....did the candling. Definitely a few were pink, a couple were clear
, and a few were opaque. One of them had a dark turtle shape on one end....very small but definitely turtle shaped? I am going to look again tomorrow. No veins but a pinky glow to them.
Should I be hopeful?!
So....did the candling. Definitely a few were pink, a couple were clear
, and a few were opaque. One of them had a dark turtle shape on one end....very small but definitely turtle shaped? I am going to look again tomorrow. No veins but a pinky glow to them.
Should I be hopeful?!
Hi Allie,
If there was veins or they where pinkish they sound good. You need to do it in a dark room with a very narrow beam before you can see veins. Sometimes if the torch isn't bright enough you can't see clear veins but can see a pinkish glow.
Josh
The 1 with the black spot looks very hopeful.