Mali Uromastyx Eggs!

[DoubleZ]

So my girl laid these yesterday and since she was being babysat while I'm in school I had to drive out to go them. It was a crazy trip and they didn't get into an incubator till midnight (11 hours after being laid) and the incubator I have is a ghetto thing I built in my dorm room, but so far they look ok. One looks a little yellow, but it did from the start and it may just be that the substrate stained it and is making it look dark. Three are nice and white with a few small dents from being handled. Two are beautiful, nice and plump and white. So we'll see how it goes.

 

[M_surinamensis]

So we'll see how it goes.

I'm going to predict: not well.

I opened the thread, ready to give a few pointers about the way neonate uromastyx spend a juvenile period in a different microenvironment than adults do, that the 130 degree plus basking sites are something that they seek as they age, that juveniles spend more time closer to cover and hiding, where it's slightly cooler and there's a little bit of humidity... about how it's worth it to take the time and make the effort to provide a genuinely accurate thermal gradient and terrarium fixtures which allow for their normal behaviors to ensure proper self-regulation and growth.

All that applies to the eggs too, the need for precision, calculated, controlled conditions. Careful conditions... some humidity, specific and relatively stable temperatures.

An aquarium half full of water, covered in tinfoil, with the eggs sitting in the bottom of a precariously balanced lightweight, disposable tupperware container, with that kind of condensation on the sides of the tank... if they aren't dead yet, they will be soon.

 

[DoubleZ]

I know it's unlikely they'll survive but hey, I'm a broke college student and this wasn't planned. I don't have the money for an incubator, the only ones for sale anywhere near me are exactly the amount of money I have in my bank account. I would have liked actual advice because I admit, I don't know what I'm doing, but you don't need to be nasty about it. I'm working with what I've got which isn't much. It was that or just throw them out and not even try.

 

[DoubleZ]

Here's the situation. I'm away at college, all my animals are 2.5 hours away being babysat by a friend's younger sister. I didn't know Clyde was even gravid until I got an e-mail yesterday saying she laid eggs while in the middle of writing an essay because I'm 2.5 hours away and haven't gotten to see my animals in months. Their light cycle and temps have not changed, they're on a timer. Their food has been consistent. I was in no way shape or form trying to get them to breed. They bred anyway.

I live in an 8X10 room in an ancient dorm that gets hot and humidish unless a window is open. I had a fishtank and heater around so I did the best I could be attempting to build what might act as an incubator. I know this is incredibly far from ideal but it's all I have. I have pretty much no money, as stated I'm in college and because of the number of classes I take plus the volunteering I do I don't have time for a job so no I won't have money any time soon. I'm doing the best I can and if anyone has advice on how to increase the chance that the eggs might make it I would appreciate it.

 

[DoubleZ]

Miraculously 5 of the eggs are still alive, or at least they are plump and white and don't have any bad smell or anything off looking about them. The one yellow looking egg was bad, as I suspected. If anyone has any advice on how to give these eggs a better chance at survival I'm open to suggestions.

 

[DoubleZ]

One egg was obviously bad, so now I'm down to four. Three of these had a bit of mold, I wiped it off but I'm not sure they'll make it. I wasn't really expecting them to, but at least I tried. If anyone has any tips I'd appreciate it.