Dented Eggs! I Can't Fix Them!

Neon Aurora

Neon Aurora

New Member
Messages
1,376
Location
New Mexico
I know this is probably a very common problem, but I don't know what to do!

I have 4 eggs. One is absolutely perfect. I'm sure it will hatch, but the other three are dented/deflated and I can't fix them! I've added water to the hatchrite and I laid a moist paper towel over the dented eggs, but they won't plump up! They're all fertile, they candle nice and pink with red veins. What do I do? I live in New Mexico and the air is very dry. It feels like a losing battle. Will they be okay? I'm so anxious for them to make it.

=(
 
Neon Aurora

Neon Aurora

New Member
Messages
1,376
Location
New Mexico
The oldest clutch is 28 days old and the second is only 5 days old, and this is the one that has both the perfect egg and the dented one. I made my own incubator out of a styrofoam box, heat tape, and water bottles. The temperature stays very stable, except when I added water it dropped a couple of degrees for a small amount of time. I'm incubating at 86 degrees (for mixed) and it's regulated by a Herpstat.

Also, I know about the wet paper towel encouraging mold growth, but the air is so dry here I just don't see it happening. I was worried about that at first, so i didn't do it for a while, but now I'm a lot more concerned about the denting. If I gently touch the surface of the eggs, they feel stiff and dry, almost brittle.

I just don't understand why one egg is so perfect looking and the others aren't?

EDIT: Oops, missed one. I'm not using GEO's. The eggs are incubated in Hatchrite.
 
Last edited:
geckolabs

geckolabs

New Member
Messages
327
Location
Virginia
I've never been a fan of hatchrite, personally. I used to use it, and had frequent issues with denting. For a product that is supposed to be as simple as "pour and cook", I found myself needing to add water frequently.

I have since tried GEOs/Sim trays, and the like. They worked decently with just over saturated water crystals underneath the tray.

And since, I have switched back to perilite and will be sticking with it again.

As far as your eggs go, I've had some that were dented throughout the majority of their incubation period and hatched perfectly fine. Don't stress over it too much.
 
Neon Aurora

Neon Aurora

New Member
Messages
1,376
Location
New Mexico
Hm, hatchrite was recommended to me by a local reptile shop that I trust very much. Perhaps next season I'll try something different. I have added quite a lot of water to it and the eggs still dented.

And good to know that there's still a good chance they'll hatch. There isn't any molding and they're still candling well, so I assume they must still be alive.
 
Music City Geckos

Music City Geckos

New Member
Messages
269
Location
Nashville
Can't speak from experience with hatchrite. What type of container are you putting the eggs in? Did you punch holes in it? How big of holes? Are there holes/openings in your incubator. It definitely sounds like a humidity problem. Sorry if I ask a lot of questions just eliminating variables. Sometimes when I have eggs with dents it takes up to a week or more for them to pop out. Also, sometimes the don't pop out and they hatch just fine. I have learned in my experience that the less "mess" with the eggs the better. Just let nature take its course outside of making sure the basic variables are met.
 
Neon Aurora

Neon Aurora

New Member
Messages
1,376
Location
New Mexico
I'm using a single large container for all the eggs, but I think that might have been a mistake. There are no holes in it and it's sealed.

I should have used individual deli cups Should I change them over to individual ones?

I know I shouldn't mess with the eggs. =/ I have checked on them a few times because I'm worried about the denting, but I should probably not check on them so much.

I'll try putting a deli cup over them. And maybe I should add some more water, too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Visit our friends

Top