that's it I give up

[Perefalcon]

SO PEEVED RIGHT NOW!

I finally got my bell hatchling...but not sure if it's a tang who didn't develop it's pigment properly from the deformity or a freak snow (eggs were from a SHTCT Het Bell X Hybino Pairing)...please let me know what you all think...poor thing has a severe eye and head deformity.

I am going to try to help it survive...just so everyone knows...even though it is deformed, it may still live a decent life as a pet...and frankly it looks like it's colors are gonna be insane if it's a tang...

I don't know what it is this year...I've lost over 60 eggs...they'd develop a few weeks and then die...6 hatchlings have died and now all the eggs I've been waiting on are yielding failure...I supplement like crazy...feed all them like mad and don't open the incubator except to let in fresh air once a week...and that's only for a moment...

this egg was due last week and finally piped today...it was havin a bit of a struggle getting out so I opened the hole a bit more for it and it squirmed right out...it's actually quite strong

well, here it is...I know that there's someone out there who's had this exact this happen...I'm sure it's due to my evil incubator, it's a still air, which is the same type as a hovabator...all my gecko sales this year were supposed to go to my new incubator fund...but that's not very promising now either...

well here's my little baby...I hope it survives...but I doubt it

 

[KelliH]

Oh my goodness, I am so sorry Tonya, for you and that little baby!

There are several possible reasons for eggs going bad, full term dead in egg babies, deformities. The most common reason in my opinion can be found in vitamin and calcium supplementation of the adult females, although poor genetics, too wet of an incubation medium, and wildly fluctuating temps during incubation can cause similar problems also. Let's start with supplementation: What sort of supplements are you using and what/how often are you using them?

 

[Perefalcon]

I use the rep-cal (with and without d3) and herptivite D3 once a week calcium 3 times a week on the girls plus a dish in the tank (3 actually)...herptivite every other feeding...so twice a week at least..but the baby isn't dead..it's running around it's tub...not very straight...more like a drunk gecko, but it's moving

The substrate in the cups is perilite and I have condensation at the bottom...but no standing water...but I have had some screwed up temp fluctuations this year, I blame all this on that...which is why if rob does get an inheritance from his uncle that passed last week...when he asks me what I want for my b-dya in october...I'm gonna tell him an NS incubator

BTW Kelli, that's Nuri's baby...his first with that female

 

[bittner_344]

Oh man Jill, that is one nice baby, to bad it has to turn out like that! lets hope you can do something to try and help this baby live.
Brett

 

[Perefalcon]

well, as expected...the baby didn't make it through the night...I'm a tad bit irritated about that...I really hope next year gives me less heartache

 

[LeopardLunatic]

wow sorry thats gotta be rough going through all that well theirs always next year.

 

[StinaKSU]

awe I'm sorry the baby didn't make it

 

[dprince]

I'm so sorry.

 

[scottmckillips]

I'm sorry you are having so many problems. Last year was my first year and I lost my first 16 eggs, but hatched my last six with no problems. I switched to vermiculite instead of perilite and have had no problems since. I would try setting up another container with a different substrate and maybe a different water ratio. With the problems you are having so far I would try a few test tubs and see if your luck changes. You may also want to put a thermostat on your incubator or find a different place to put it where the temps don't change so much. I've heard of people putting their incubators in the closet or maybe a fan in the room to move so air. I wish you the best of luck.

Scott

 

[Perefalcon]

I have the incubator in the bedroom where tha AC is...the temps were messed up mostly before I got it...but a few times I've seen the temps jump then drop then jump again

and the first 30 eggs were in vermiculite, then I switched to perilite...I'm thinking of trying hatchrite next season

 

[scottmckillips]

Good luck Tonya, I know it's frustrating and disheartening to go through all that you are going through. Last year when I was going through this I was just trying to figure out what I was doing to cause the problem. So far this year other than a few inferts I have had real good luck. I wish you the best of luck.

Scott

 

[Perefalcon]

I hope my luck turns around like yours did

 

[tangerineman]

sorry to hear about your gecko losses...

it's horrible, i have had a few issues b/c of incubator issues in the past,
i switched to a fridge converted with a helix dbs, and no fluctuations with the temps...

if you or your significant other is good with basic 'putting together' of stuff,
I would suggest stopping by a hotel or motel in your area, and asking the handyman there if they have any old fridges you can 'remove' for them,
ask when they put out stuff like that for CFC recovery, and beat the city to the chase. Usually CFC is recovered the day before the units are picked up, at least in NYC they are.... the ACs and fridges never ever make it to city pick up, the scrap metal guys take all that stuff first..

I throw out so many at the hotel where i work...(nyc)
I picked up a 1yr old mini GE fridge b/c the thing had a coolant leak, (no coolant left), all you need is 2 ft of 11" flexwatt and a DBS-100 or similar...to make a super stable incubator.

sorry if i am telling you info you already know...
i get sidetracked easily...

-Duane

 

[Ian S.]

Hi tonya,
I hate to recant on a heart breaking situation where the thread is kind of old. I had the the same deformitites in my last breeding season with four of the babies I hatched out. After racking my brain as to why animals I bred the season prior with 100% hatch rate and no deformitites at all would breed the deformed little ones the next season, came down to one thing temp fluxes in the bator.

 

[shadowx362]

I heard that one guy was having deformities because of contaminated tap water? I would suggest using water bottles if possible and I also had problems with the eggs dieing because the female cages were to hot so there bellies(eggs) became infertile but then after i put down the cage temps the eggs started doing good. The process of the egg begins with the parents so if their cages are too hot,cold or crappy male then it could cause this. Just my thoughts not scientifically proven .

 

[fallen_angel]

I just realized how old this thread was, but I am so sorry to hear about everything that's happened and given you greif this season

We followed Albey's how to incubate instructions and haven't had any problems yet, and the only infertile eggs we have had were infertile from the get go (knock on wood). We also use a Hovabator and the temps fluctuate between 82-84, but not more than that (knock on more wood). I highly recommend Albey's method and I wish you the best!

 

[Perefalcon]

most of my issues last year were because of wild temp fluctuations....this year I'm not sure what's going on...I think it's the medium I'm using...once I have the new herp room set up in the next few months....things should get better

 

[Rep-Tails]

Tonya I hope everything works out for you. Just stay positive and I'm sure things will work out for you.

 

[fallen_angel]

We use perlite too, though, and it works great! I don't see how the perlite could be the problem.. ? I wish you the best and keep your head up, I hope things get better for you once you get your new herp room!

 

[GeckoGathering]

Why egg problems?

Edgar's comment," I also had problems with the eggs dieing because the female cages were to hot so there bellies(eggs) became infertile but then after i put down the cage temps the eggs started doing good." .. To me, I feel Edgar's comment, along with incubator use, with too rapid and too many temp. changes. could be the large part of the problem. (probably mainly due to area room temp. changes, as I feel somewhere I read the bator works on a air temp. of 73 degrees)
Plus having overly damp conditions the egg sits on (instead of Humidity in the air) IMHO from mine, others people's methods, and talking with the maker's of Perlite and Vermiculite, ......... Albey's method of hatching females, which includes no incubator use,
has made me a believer in it.....Take care.HJ