No more worries!

[fallen_angel]

Well, at least some what. I thought I would share this little trick that I started doing with our eggs.

When you first start breeding, you're told (or at least I was) that when you find eggs, to pick them up without turning or moving them, then put them in the incubator exactly as you find them.

Well one day, I just decided to start candling the eggs as soon as I found them, find where the "bulls-eye" is, then place the side of the egg with the bulls-eye facing upwards to incubate. Since I have started doing this, I always have bulls-eyes at the very top.

I have found that most of the time, once I find an egg, I have to turn the egg completely onto the other side to find the bulls-eye.. so if I hadn't have candled it to find where the bulls-eye was, and just incubated the egg as I found it, the embryo would have drowned.

The point is, it's not necessarily the best to take the eggs as you find them because the female will kick them and make them roll. If you candle the egg as soon as you get it to put into the incubator, find the bulls-eye and make sure it's facing the top, you won't have any problems with drowning embryos

 

[JordanAng420]

Jess, that is some AWESOME advice. Thanks!

 

[Jenn]

THANK YOU!! After I read this I went and checked on my eggs that I found today at noon and sure enough I flipped them over and on the bottom was the bulls eye shinning bright red. I hope they are ok and its not to late.

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

I don't know how to ask this question without it (maybe) coming out wrong. So if it does come across as derogatory, then what can I say. So anyway...

Have you hatched any geckos out with following this candeling method? And if so, what was your success rate? Thanks in advance!

 

[fallen_angel]

Jenn - I am sure you found them in time, best wishes to you!! Let me know when they hatch

Maurice - Yes, I promise you it doesn't hurt the egg as long as you do it quickly (but smoothly) and on the same day as they are laid. I have done this with our past 12 eggs, four hatched and the other 8 are still incubating, all fertile and looking good.

I did this trick with our first clutch of Mack Snow Enigma eggs, that's how much I trust in it :main_thumbsup: You are ensuring the embryo is on the top (although I have hatched many eggs with the embryo on the side), you just really don't want it on the bottom.

But we lost many eggs last year due to them just turning out empty. The shell always looked perfect, in fact, it wasn't until the day they were due to hatch that I noticed there wasn't anything inside. The embryos never developed, and we believe it's because the embryo drowned in every single one of them. I used to just place the eggs in the incubator exactly as I found them; but now that I am candling them first, I have noticed that more often than not, the embryo is indeed on the bottom and I have to turn the egg completely before putting it in the incubator.

 

[mynewturtle]

Not saying that they wont drown or die or whatever. But I have had the incubator drop when I was moving there were probaly 15 eggs that flipped and they had to have stayed like that for days, I had every single one hatch.I dunno my personal experience.
Also have had hatchlings flip eggs and they stay flipped for 24 hours sometimes.

 

[fallen_angel]

Unfortunately, we haven't had such luck with turned eggs. One time last year, all of our eggs were upside down from another hatchling, but the temperature did change a lot because of my inexperience and keeping the incubator open the entire time I was rearranging the eggs... so it may have not been the turning of the eggs at all, in our case. At any rate, from that incident, we lost 2 out of 5 eggs, and one of the babies has a deformity.

But I have heard of many people having turned eggs without any problems of them hatching as well

 

[Gregg M]

Well, at least some what. I thought I would share this little trick that I started doing with our eggs.

When you first start breeding, you're told (or at least I was) that when you find eggs, to pick them up without turning or moving them, then put them in the incubator exactly as you find them.

Well one day, I just decided to start candling the eggs as soon as I found them, find where the "bulls-eye" is, then place the side of the egg with the bulls-eye facing upwards to incubate. Since I have started doing this, I always have bulls-eyes at the very top.

I have found that most of the time, once I find an egg, I have to turn the egg completely onto the other side to find the bulls-eye.. so if I hadn't have candled it to find where the bulls-eye was, and just incubated the egg as I found it, the embryo would have drowned.

The point is, it's not necessarily the best to take the eggs as you find them because the female will kick them and make them roll. If you candle the egg as soon as you get it to put into the incubator, find the bulls-eye and make sure it's facing the top, you won't have any problems with drowning embryos

Jess, I am sorry but this is completely wrong...
When the female lays the eggs, it takes a while before the embryo attaches to the egg wall... Once it does attach, the egg should not be flipped or turned... The embryo will not always attach itself to the top side of the egg... Its final possition is not important providing the egg was not rotated after it attached... If it attached on the side or the bottom of the egg wall thats where is should stay...

Honestly, I can tell you 100% that you flipped your eggs before the embryo had a chance to attach itself to the egg wall and this is the reason you were able to get viable neonates...

 

[fallen_angel]

Greg, perhaps the term embryo is incorrect, but what I am referring to is the "bulls-eye" which is visible inside of a fertile egg as soon as they are laid. I know what I have seen with my own eyes, my friend, and with all of our eggs this season.

All I am saying is that when they are laid, I hold a little flashlight to the egg, turn it until I find the bulls-eye, and put the egg in the incubator with the bulls-eye on top. The bulls-eye, from what I understand and have seen, is what begins to develop into the baby gecko through time. It can be on the side of the egg and be just fine, I've had many eggs like that too. But if the embryo attaches to the bottom of the egg, I thought it was sure to drown if it stays on the bottom too long?

 

[Gregg M]

Greg, perhaps the term embryo is incorrect, but what I am referring to is the "bulls-eye" which is visible inside of a fertile egg as soon as they are laid.

Embryo is the correct term... It is the start of a neonate...

All I am saying is that when they are laid, I hold a little flashlight to the egg, turn it until I find the bulls-eye, and put the egg in the incubator with the bulls-eye on top. The bulls-eye, from what I understand and have seen, is what begins to develop into the baby gecko through time.

Like I said, it can take many hours before the embryo or bulls-eye attaches to the egg wall... Before it attaches, you can flip it over 20 times and it will not affect the growing embryo...

It can be on the side of the egg and be just fine, I've had many eggs like that too. But if the embryo attaches to the bottom of the egg, I thought it was sure to drown if it stays on the bottom too long?

Where ever the embryo or bulls-eye attaches itself is where it should stay...

Jess, you could be on to something... I am not trying to discredit you as I do respect you... But for me, the eggs go in the incubation container as I found them... I have not candled an egg in 10 years... Why start now???:main_thumbsup:

 

[fallen_angel]

I just feel more confident about the eggs if the bulls-eye is on top I guess. That way I can see it, I know it's there, things are good lol

I can tell you that when I found our Mack Snow Enigma eggs, I took them just as they were laid, candled them, and found the embryo on the bottom on both of them. I think the embryos would have drowned if I had left them like that.. that would have been pretty upsetting if they had gone bad.

When I first started breeding, I candled our eggs from day one, and periodically throughout, just because I was curious. I didn't even realize there was anything visible in the egg on the first day, let alone right after they were laid. I always thought that it took a few days to see anything.. But I have came to realize that if it's fertile, the bulls-eye is visible right away.. so I figure since I can see it, why not rotate it.

Everyone is different and I do appreciate your comments, thank you. To each their own

 

[fallen_angel]

Any thoughts from anyone else?

 

[herpencounter]

This is just coming from bearded dragons…

The first year with bearded dragons, I candled each and every one of them. About 90% of my eggs had the bull’s-eye on the side, the others where on top or bottom. I had a 100% success rate that year one female 60 eggs all hatched (and you guys think leopard geckos are a pain to feed >.> lol).

So coming from bearded dragons, I would say that turning them is unnecessary.

I specifically remember looking at one of the eggs with the eye on the bottom, and seeing the baby on the bottom of the egg and (s)he hatched out just fine.

 

[Daidra]

Hi Jess I always candle the egg to see where the bulls eye is and have not had any of my babies drown,I never leave the eggs the way I found them because as we all know the mother will sometimes move them by accident .

 

[herpencounter]

Hi Jess I always candle the egg to see where the bulls eye is and have not had any of my babies drown,I never leave the eggs the way I found them because as we all know the mother will sometimes move them by accident .

FWIW

The embryo is not already attached it takes several hours before it attaches.

Also I see you live in Ft.Myers I live in the cape =P.

 

[Gregg M]

I never leave the eggs the way I found them because as we all know the mother will sometimes move them by accident .

Again for the 3rd or 4th time mentioned in this thread... The embryo does not attach as soon as the egg is dropped... The embryo is only in danger of "drowning" after it has attached itself to the egg wall... Where it attaches itself is not important at all... It will be fine if it attaches on the bottom... If you candle an egg and the embryo is attached to the bottom egg wall, if you flip it you will indeed kill the embryo... This is why you should incubate eggs in the exact same possition you found it... I do not see why this is so hard to understand??? Again people, this is basic reptilian physiology...:main_thumbsup:

 

[Okee Reps]

I've never candled an egg in my life. In fact I rarely even check on them. I don't even want the possibility of something going wrong because I accidentally turned them while trying to candle them or something. In my opinion it's best if you place them how they were found and leave them alone.

 

[fallen_angel]

I don't understand, the bulls eye doesn't move, whether the embryo is attached or not. I just find where it is (because it's there directly after the eggs are laid), make sure it is facing upwards, incubate, and all of the eggs do very well. I don't feel like arguing. I'm just saying, this is what I do, and I thought I'd share. Sometimes, with all of the arguing that goes on ALL of the time on here, I tend to think about whether or not I should post anything at all.

This works for me, whether the embryo is attached or not. This is my method, and I do it as soon as the eggs are laid unless I just don't find them until later. I shared this because I thought it would be helpful for others, that is all. I am going to continue doing it this way, I have done this for several months before even saying anything, and I am happy with my results.

This isn't a competition on who candles and who doesn't. This conversation has nothing to do with you if you do not candle your eggs, I am sorry!!!! And Greg, you are free to incubate in whatever way you'd like. Do what works for you, that's great! I will do the same.

Thanks for your time.

 

[fallen_angel]

I am going to ask a moderator to close this thread before this goes on and on forever.
Thanks for the support, for those who gave it.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

This thread doesn't have to turn into a war, people! I suggest everyone just step away from the computer and cool off for a little while on this topic.