Increasing Incubation Temperature for Brighter Colored Females

[Neon Aurora]

So, I'm waiting on my second clutch from my female(First one was infertile), and I started thinking about how lower temperatures produces darker colored animals. I want to produce females, but I'm expecting some albinos(if my male is in fact what he was sold to me as) and I want the albinos to be light colored. Initially I thought it would be easy. Just incubate at 82-83 and then increase to 88(Slowly, a degree increase every day) or so after 25 days. However, I didn't think about the fact that each clutch is laid at least two weeks apart. I only have one incubator. Is there any way I can produce all females and still increase the temperature in time for the first ones to come out light colored, or am I going to have to either produce some darker colored females or have my later clutches be males? If I increased the temperature after the last clutch laid reaches 25 days, would my earliest clutches still get the lighter color or would it be too late for them?

 

[acpart]

I would recommend keeping the incubator at the same temperature. I think it's risky to be changing incubation temps. I've incubated generally from 80-84 (not at the same time) and hatched albinos in a range of colors. As a matter of fact, my darkest albino was hatched last summer at 84.

Aliza

 

[Neon Aurora]

I see, so you think the theory is unfounded?

 

[thathighherpguy]

Its not that the theory is unfounded. Its that in order to really accomplish it you need to be prepared, equipment wise and experience wise.

I'm not sure how experienced you are but I am in the same boat as well with only one incubator. I plan on producing albinos and want the best color possible. As stated above though its best to NOT tamper with the temperature as much as possible because fluctuations can really affect the developing embryos.

All is not lost though! In my research i've come to understand that for about the first year of a hatchlings life the pigment is still developing. So in conclusion if you keep the hatchlings bin temp on the higher side they'll form much brighter pigmentation for the first year =]

More experienced breeders please correct me if wrong.

Sent from my SCH-R720 using Tapatalk 2

 

[indyana]

You know, in all the times I read about the system of changing temperature after sex is set, it never once occurred to me that the eggs would all be ready to change temps at different times. Would be great to know if anyone uses that system and, if so, how they manage it. I assume you'd have to have a series of incubators at various temps versus only one incubator...

 

[DrCarrotTail]

In one of Sasobek's videos I thought he had a segment on how he does this. He had 8 or 10 incubators set at 2 degree increments between 80-90. He started females off in the lowest one and moved their bin of eggs into a higher one every week or two until they hatched. He started males off at a higher temperature. I'm not sure it can be done with fewer than two or three incubators safely unless you're changing the temp on all your eggs regardless of how long they've been incubating which could be dangerous or at the least make knowing what sex they'll be really confusing.

 

[Neon Aurora]

I see. So it sounds like I won't be able to do this until I have more incubators and more equipment. I guess it would be best for me to incubate normal and have the albino hatchlings at a higher temperature.

Thanks for straightening me out. =)

 

[stager]

I'm doing it for the first time this year but I am using two incubators. At twenty three days imove females to the male indicator.