Brand new with some questions

[Fanner]

I have had a ton of my questions answered just by searching around these forums, thanks! Without boring you to tears with details, here's a quick background: I have had leos for about 8 months. They technically belong to my 7.5 and 6 year old sons. Our apparent female laid 2 eggs 6 days ago. My inexperienced eye thinks they are fertile, there is a definite red circular area in each of them. They are stuck together but I read in another post that they should be ok. I have them in a styrofoam cooler with an aquarium heater in a mason jar full of water. The eggs are on perlite (sp?) in a rubbermaid container. The temperature is staying steady at 85 degrees, is that OK? The humidity is going to be a problem, though I am afraid. Is 90% going to soak the stuffing out of them? I was told to soak the perlite in water and then squeeze all the water out ~ I have seen the ratios posted here since then..... will I be better off to have them on dry perlite and figure the heater in the water will provide enough humidity? I also don't have a scale to do the ratio mentioned. What would you recommend as a good/inexpensive one to buy? I don't want to handle them too much and ruin their chances all together. I am excited about the prospect of hatching them, even though they were a surprise

Sorry this got so long, there is a lot more I am tempted to add:main_rolleyes: Trying to control myself

 

[tronicsman]

the egg container should be sealed with at the most 1 tiny hole otherwise just open the lid to the rubbermaid container once a week that will allow enough fresh air to enter otherwise you will loose to much humidity and the eggs will dry out

 

[lytlesnake]

90% humidity could cause the eggs to swell, which can kill the embryo. I thought my egg containers were getting too dry, but then I overcorrected by misting too much. I think I may have lost 3-5 eggs, but I haven't given up on them yet.

A lot of people use the "Albey method", which is basically 80% water weight in proportion to the perlite weight. You mist the medium though, as opposed to mixing it with water and ringing it out.

http://www.albeysreptiles.com/incubate-eggs.htm

 

[Fanner]

Ok, so bear with me here; should I just re-do the perlite? I tried uncovering the egg container and that did nothing. How much am I able to disturb the eggs? The hygrometer is in the egg container so I have to uncover it to see it. Should I get it out of there? Sorry for all the questions! Thanks

 

[david13]

picking the eggs p and moving them shouldnt bother them, as long as you keep them in the same position.
i would use the
Albey method

 

[david13]

and welcome to GF

 

[Fanner]

Thanks "David13"!

 

[Rep-Tails]

Welcome to GF. Handling the eggs is not a problem as David said. Just keep the in the same position, and do not roll them. You can get a decent scale at any office supply store. I bought a postal scale from Office Max like 3 years ago and it works great. Just make sure that it reads grams. In my opinion 90% humidity is to high. If you decide to redo the perlite I would almost say leave it a hair dry. The mason jar in the cooler method creates alot of humidity on its own. In a couple of days to a week if your eggs look like that are starting to dent, then lightly mist the perlite around the edges of the container that the eggs are in. I also have to agree with lytlesnake, Albeys method is by far the best I have found and used. I have been using it for 3 years or so now, and havent had any problems. Hope this helps.