Unexpected eggs

[Mich]

I have a few male and female leo's of diff morphs. The females I house together and the males each have their own tank. About 2 months ago I introduced one of my males to a female, but after watching them quite closely for a day she was nipped quite a few times (which I know is normal) but she didn't seem receptive, kept running away as fast as she could, so I removed her and figured I'd wait until spring to try again. It has been about 2 months since then and she has just laid 2 eggs. I have them in the incubator but do you think they would be fertile or has it been too long since she was seperated from the male? In the Reptiles magazine it says females lay their eggs 16-22 days after mating and some web sites say 6+ weeks after. Some people have told me that even if these ones are infertile she will still continue to lay eggs during the remainder the breeding season and if I'm in doubt I should put her back in with the male so the next ones will be fertile.. looking for some advice about that please. So far the 2 eggs I have at being kept at 84 degrees, are bright white and solid. I always keep a moist hide with moss in the enclosure which is of course where they were laid but since I wasn't expecting eggs I only open it to mist it every couple of days so the eggs could of also been in there for 1-3 days before I found them (only at room temp). Wonder what will become of them :main_huh:

 

[Keith N]

Its usually a little easier when she is ovulating as most of my females can be observed taking to the male. If your in doubt giver her a week or so then put her back in. Give her a little time to relax and eat some before you stress her out again. If you didn't observe breeding then there is now real way to tell if breeding did occur. That is unless you were watching the whole time she was in his tank and then removed her. You could candle the egg to see if there is an embryo in there too.

 

[Mich]

I didn't sit and watch the WHOLE time, just checked in on her constantly to make sure she wasn't getting too abused. I just wasn't sure with the amount of time that has gone by if these eggs had a chance of being fertile, guess I'll find out soon enough if they start to go bad. Also wasn't sure if I should attempt to put her back in with the male, figured she's probably pretty pooped out and stressed after the first clutch. I really hope they are viable and weren't too cool in the moist hide before I found them They are at a cozy 82-84 degrees now and I have my fingers crossed! I wasn't expecting them but already had everything I needed on hand anyway. Would you put her back in with the male in a few weeks?

 

[Khrysty]

I wouldn't put her back with the male just yet. Those eggs look fertile from here. Of course, candling in a week or so could tell you for sure. If they glow yellow instead of pink, I'd put her back with the male for sure. I wouldn't toss the eggs, though, even if they do glow yellow. Not unless they start to mold and smell.

 

[Mich]

Great guys thanks!!!! I'm very excited. I've also read a lot of different info regarding hatching times, from 30days to 90 days so the suspense will kill me. I've never done the candling thing but have seen pics and examples, if the eggs still look good in a few weeks I'll try it for sure!

 

[Khrysty]

at that temp it should be about 40-50 days. The cooler you incubate, the longer it takes. And the reverse, obviously, applies. You can incubate anywhere between 79-92. Around 80 will give you mostly females (and will take around 60 days), around 90, mostly males (taking around 30 days).

 

[Keith N]

I would leave them in like Khrysty said until they rot or mold. Otherwise if you didn't see them the whole time I would just assume that it was a fertile egg

 

[Mich]

Thanks guys Ya I set the temp for females and will be keeping a very close watch! Out of all the printed books and magazines I have and out of all the stuff on the net I find this form is by far the most heplful!! If they hatch I'll post pics!!

 

[Keith N]

Good luck and keep us all posted

 

[Mich]

So its been a week and I used a pen light in my first attemps to candle my eggs lol I was every so careful not to turn them over so at first they just glowed yellow and I was dissapointed. I tried again the next night and noticed at the very bottom of the egg there was a small pink spot (I think that's what Ive seen people on here refer to as the bullseye) and a few little pink looking veins! They are still very yellow but maybe in a week or two they will show more pink *fingers crossed* Hope has been renewed!! haha So far I have not put my girl back with the male. She looks a little plump so maybe she is working on another clutch, I haven't picked her upt o inspect her much because I'veread on here about females getting stressed out and reabsorbing the eggs.

 

[roger]

I didn't sit and watch the WHOLE time, just checked in on her constantly to make sure she wasn't getting too abused. I just wasn't sure with the amount of time that has gone by if these eggs had a chance of being fertile, guess I'll find out soon enough if they start to go bad. Also wasn't sure if I should attempt to put her back in with the male, figured she's probably pretty pooped out and stressed after the first clutch. I really hope they are viable and weren't too cool in the moist hide before I found them They are at a cozy 82-84 degrees now and I have my fingers crossed! I wasn't expecting them but already had everything I needed on hand anyway. Would you put her back in with the male in a few weeks?

That medium looks awfully wet though