Possible infertile eggs incubating

[Fidget321]

Hi there,

My Flap Neck Chameleon laid a batch of eggs during Easter weekend. (April 10 - 11 2009) and has been incubating in a shoe box with temp around 20 - 25 C. These eggs have been incubating close to 5 months. (Some of them have fallen flat, shrunken and even molded) - These referred to below are the healthy ones.

Now I tried the candling technique but I'm not sure what is it exactly I have to see, but I am seeing squat.

I held the egg (being extremely careful not to turn it over even by the slightest degree) in front of a normal 50W white bulb and i'm not seeing anything in there.

These aggs are a pink, white-ish colour and have even grown a bit (I think) since she has laid them.

Can Flap Neck Chams lay infertile eggs?
Am I doing something wrong with the candling I tried?
What is it exactly I am supposed to see?

Thanks guys!

 

[Surfrat]

These aggs are a pink, white-ish colour and have even grown a bit (I think) since she has laid them.

If the eggs are pinkish and are growing then they are fertile. Pinkish color would be vascular formation.

If the eggs are caving in/denting then the humidity is probably too low and you need to carefully add water.

Moldy eggs would usually indicate they have gone bad.

A photograph would be helpful if you can post one.

I have no experience with flapnecks so can't help ya on the species specific questions.

 

[Nicodemayo]

There is no need to pick the egg up while candling. You can use a flashlight (mini maglights work best) and quickly point it kinda to the side of the egg with it still laying in the media. If the egg is good, there it should have a pinkish glow from the light. Sometimes you can see the veins, and you can sometimes see a dark glow where the neonate is laying. I am not familiar with c.delepis incubation time or whether or not theres is a diapuase state, so there may be a stage in the egg where you will not see anything, but almost 5 months, you should probably be seeing something. Keep candling to a minimum, and if you do it efficiently, you can have the container open, and hover the light next to each egg and see which ones are good or not in about 15 seconds. I have been thinking of making a "candling for thought" thread, complete photos of how I do it, so I just may take the time to do it. More delicate species I would not bother, and alot of keepers would prefer to not mess with the eggs at all. Be careful

 

[jagfan]

There is no need to pick the egg up while candling. You can use a flashlight (mini maglights work best) and quickly point it kinda to the side of the egg with it still laying in the media. If the egg is good, there it should have a pinkish glow from the light. Sometimes you can see the veins, and you can sometimes see a dark glow where the neonate is laying. I am not familiar with c.delepis incubation time or whether or not theres is a diapuase state, so there may be a stage in the egg where you will not see anything, but almost 5 months, you should probably be seeing something. Keep candling to a minimum, and if you do it efficiently, you can have the container open, and hover the light next to each egg and see which ones are good or not in about 15 seconds. I have been thinking of making a "candling for thought" thread, complete photos of how I do it, so I just may take the time to do it. More delicate species I would not bother, and alot of keepers would prefer to not mess with the eggs at all. Be careful

I would love to see a thread on candling. I've done it with bird eggs, a few different species but haven't tried with any Chameleons yet. Would like to see pictures to compare.

 

[Fidget321]

Ok no picking up.
I have added water today (Just sprayed it against the sides), I'll add my hygrometer in there to see what humidity range the incubator has,

I threw away fourteen eggs today - They were dented in (flat even) with green mold on them. - Could this not be because the temperature that does not stay constant?
Only four of the entire batch of 38 still look good.

As far as I know flap necks do not lay clutches of infertile eggs such as the veiled chameleons do - But I stand to be corrected here.

Thanks guys