Egg temp question

[bmm]

O.k. so FINALLY my pair of snows is breeding like there is no tomorrow. Putting them together *again* tonight. And getting ready for the eggs in a bit.

I am a bit confused though. Some people use incubator, some do not....some say putting them in a warm place is enough to do the trick. Thoughts?

And what about the people who DO just use a warm shelf or spot....are temp fluctuations a problem?? (like over night drop in temp or whatever)

bmm

 

[drizzt_19]

I have used an incubator to hatch BP eggs but not for cornsnake eggs..First year with corns breeding..

I am going to try hatching my eggs using the shelf method and compare it to the incubator..Doing my own little experiment on temp fluctuations..To see if hatch rate will vary etc, etc...If I get any eggs this year...

are temp fluctuations a problem?? (like over night drop in temp or whatever)

Here's an excerpt from the cornsnake manual :

We actually feel that moderate temperature fluctuations may be beneficial, in a not yet comprehended way. Certain functions of embryonic development may progress most properly in the midly varying temperatures that eggs experience under unstable natural conditions.In southern Florida we acheive a safe range by merely letting eggs sit at room temperatures ( 70-90 degrees) for our lattitude from May through september.

( PG. 56, second paragraph, Cornsnake Manual)

A range of incubation temperatures, from 70 to 90 degrees farenheight, is well tolerated, especially if those extremes only represent fluctuations over the course of the day and not the average for most of it.

(PG. 56, first paragraph , Cornsnake Manual)

HTH, to answer some questions..Im sure some others out there have some good thoughts..

 

[Susan]

I've always used "room temp" to incubate my corn eggs and haven't had much of a problem with fluctuations. In fact, that is probably normal for eggs in the wild. You don't want huge fluctuations and it is better to be a little too cool than too warm. I've lost some eggs (second clutches) one year due to the summer heat in Florida raising the temps too high when my air conditioner went on the fritz. (I lost some hatchlings to the heat that year too...bummer.)

 

[Matt L]

bmm,
I have to agree with Susan on this one.A little cool is better than too Hot. I lost several eggs to temps up around 105 degrees. Last year I only lost one egg out of about 100. I hatched most of them in an incubator. If you can maintian a temp from 70-90 degrees consistenly through out the incubation, with out an incubator you should be fine.

Best of Luck!

Matt L.

 

[bmm]

Thanks guys!

I will be definitly putting them on a shelf in my reptile room then. Temp never goes below 68, and never gets above 90. Sounds perfect. Now I just have to get eggs!

Thanks again

bmm