Leopard Gecko Eggs Caved In Helpp

blacloud

New Member
Messages
3
Location
California
I have 4 Leopard gecko eggs currently (this is my first time ever hatching leo eggs) the first clutch is looking fine and plump but my second clutch are both severely caved in. They are 6 days old so I know they aren't going to hatch anytime soon. They are both fertile, I have candled them and they both had the pink target type mark on top. I am incubating them with a home made incubator (a tupperwear tub with vermiculite/water substrate no holes inside of an extra terrarium with a heating pad on the bottom, i have placed a towel under the tupperwear tub so it doesn't get too hot, it is holding around 85 degrees F). The 2 that have caved in are very caved in not just dented. Are they dead? I added more water to the substrate and put them back, is there anything else i should do? I don't know how long they have been like this, I haven't been checking on them because I don't want to disturb them too much.



UPDATE: one of the eggs has turned really dark and doesn't smell to good now =( both are still caved in even after adding water and the other is starting to get dark spots on it....
 
Last edited:

TigressSnow

New Member
Messages
114
Location
Canada
the adding water should help, do you have airholes in the container? if so, you dont need it, but ive had success with just 3 airholes so i dont have to do weekly air exchanges. did you measure the weight of water to vermiculite ratio put in initially? if not, did you do the squeeze test? (squeeze a clump and one drop comes out, youre golden) i think even infertile eggs could come out with a bullseye but i dont initially candle my eggs. best of luck :)
 

blacloud

New Member
Messages
3
Location
California
the adding water should help, do you have airholes in the container? if so, you dont need it, but ive had success with just 3 airholes so i dont have to do weekly air exchanges. did you measure the weight of water to vermiculite ratio put in initially? if not, did you do the squeeze test? (squeeze a clump and one drop comes out, youre golden) i think even infertile eggs could come out with a bullseye but i dont initially candle my eggs. best of luck :)


I don't have any holes in the container, I just open it once a week for air exchange. I put just enough vermiculite so that it clumps together but doesn't drip water, should i have put more?
 

Alceste

Member
Messages
30
Location
United States
I know a lot of people use vermiculite with great success, but I have personally not had great luck with it. I found that it sucks moisture out of whatever it is around. If your are willing/able maybe try to swap to perlite?
 

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