Dimpling eggs...

[Jevard]

least thats always been my opinion

 

[beaniebopps]

Thanks Jevard! May build a box like that, currently I'm happier with the eggs anyway.


I didnt bury them because the ones at the bottom would have been totally buried and impossible to see how they were getting on (whole clutch apart from 3 eggs out of 22 stuck firmly together!)

I now have the vermiculite sortoff half burrying them, and some damp moss on top of them. The dimples have all gone! Yay!! The discoloured bits are still there but what can I expect really. I hope this isn't a bad sign.

Heres a couple pics to update.... The first one is how buried the whole clutch is, and the 2nd is a close up I took after moving a little moss away. It makes them look whiter than they are though.... there are defo still pinkish weird discoloured bits. These are easier to see in the first pic.

 

[ghosthousecorns]

I've always buried them, the bottom ones don't need for me to be able to see them to hatch. I use moss underneath and not vermiculite, but usually when I lift the pad of moss on top to check them there's a few at the bottom I can't see. I like to use enough moss so I can't see any eggs without lifting it, if it starts to dry out I can spritz the top pad of moss without spraying water directly on any eggs.
The way I feel, if an egg on the very bottom is going bad, if I try to mess with it the chances of damaging all the good eggs around it are pretty good.
I'm glad they are plumping up

 

[zorro]

Thanks Jevard! May build a box like that, currently I'm happier with the eggs anyway.
I now have the vermiculite sortoff half burrying them, and some damp moss on top of them. The dimples have all gone! Yay!! The discoloured bits are still there but what can I expect really. I hope this isn't a bad sign.

The moss worked for me too, I just have to change the moss every 3-4 days when it starts drying out. It's awful dry here in Colorado. Discoloration is fine, looks like your eggs are fine.
John

 

[kimbyra]

Maybe its just me, but I read in one of the major cornsnake books, I think it was Soderberg's "Cornsnakes in Captivity", that dippling usually occurs a little before hatching, and is perfectly normal.

 

[zorro]

Maybe its just me, but I read in one of the major cornsnake books, I think it was Soderberg's "Cornsnakes in Captivity", that dippling usually occurs a little before hatching, and is perfectly normal.

Your right, they do dimple a week or so before hatching and that is normal but
I think what Beanie is talking about is dimpling one or two weeks after they are laid. According to Don that is a sign of dehydration and that is not a good thing.
John

 

[Joejr14]

its not to a breeders advantage to burry the eggs provides a good means to keep tabs and prevent problems that could be catastrophic to the other eggs

Huh? I've always buried them. That advice came from Rich Z. You don't need to be harassing the eggs on a daily basis. KISS---keep it simple stupid.

Buying the eggs is not going to cause any problems unless your medium is way too wet. And even if the eggs on the bottom go bad...so what? It's not like you can separate eggs that are stuck together anyway.

 

[ghosthousecorns]

You don't need to be harassing the eggs on a daily basis.

:laugh01:

 

[beaniebopps]

Should I use more moss or vermiculite to bury them? Which would be better?

 

[Joejr14]

I bury them in vermic, and the only time I use moss at all is if the eggs were laid in such a weird shape that I don't have a container deep enough for the vermic.

 

[Jevard]

haha i have an overactive imagination why didnt i think of the moss! oh well ive been away working mostly. but im glad you have updated the eggs looking much much better. i saw your how you built your viv... and i got a great idea for a small time breeder viv/station so to speak. based on your build! that imagination of mine is running wild with it but i think the plans will come out very nice.... i hope

 

[beaniebopps]

Thanks! That viv build thread was aaaages ago! For now I think I'll stick with the moss over the eggs rather than vermiculite. They are so clumped together that the top eggs are about 4 inches up from the bottom ones, Id feel like the bottom ones couldnt breathe if they were so buried in vermic.

The moss stains the eggs slightly, but this is normal right? I've seen pics of eggs surrounded in moss and the moss always seems to leave yellowy/green dotty residue on the eggs.

Its approximately half-way through incubation now. I can't wait. If I get 5 healthy snakes out of 22 I'll be happy... tis my first time!! Mum is doing great too, putting on the weight again like nothing normal!

 

[Jevard]

well judging by some of the pics i only saw one infertil egg probably are more though. and yea the moss will work lol. i just never think of a simple solution