When Is It Safe To Feel Good About The Eggs?

[30secondstobob]

My eggs in my homemade incubator will be three weeks old tomorrow. They still look like the day they were laid. Can I assume they are viable and will hatch in a couple more weeks? I've read that infertile or dead eggs quickly grow a fungus and go bad. Is this true? I know they could be candled, but as a 1st time leo egg parent, I'd just rather not mess with them. The incubator has maticulously held the temperature at 87 degrees and I keep the sphagnum (they are in) moist but not sopping wet. Should I be looking forward to babies, or is it still too early to tell? Bob

 

[Enigmatic_Reptiles]

Well there are no guarantees, especially without knowing if they were fertile to begin with. However, the fact that they are not denting or molding is a good sign. I would assume that as long as they are fertile then you should be getting babies.

Also, I have never used sphagnum as a medium but have known people who have and all have switched because they found it difficult to maintaining proper moisture with it. I would suggest using vermiculite, perilite, hatch-rite, or something along those lines.

 

[acpart]

You can feel good about them as long as they look decent. You can feel great about them only when they hatch.

Aliza

 

[30secondstobob]

Thanks guys! Aliza - great answer! And Enigmatic - I know, I've already been scolded several times for using the sphagnum. I'll just have to wait and see what happens. If any more eggs are laid, I'll try perlite or vermiculite. Just going with the gut as to how moist to keep it. Bob