2 eggs that sweat on the 5th...

[Julirs]

OK-so I have these 2 eggs that sweat on the 5th, they really did not shrink much, but nothing else has happened. They are well over 8 months old, and none of the others have started sweating.

Do eggs ever sweat twice? Should I slit the eggs and see what's up?

 

[joshdhensley]

Make sure that there is enough moisture in the substrate. If they pip and the egg is too dry and hard for them to get out, they can get stuck and die in there. If they haven't piped yet, don't slit it.

 

[Julirs]

Conversely if the substrate is too moist the eggs get rubbery and the babies cannot get out.

 

[Fidel]

It's a tough call to say when to slit or not. There's no formula saying if the egg is in x situation than cut/don't cut. If I were you I would give them more time. I have had eggs hatch quite a while after sweating, and I've had them hatch after not sweating at all. I think cutting an egg is more of a last resort. I've cut some out before that are still alive now, and I've cut some out that I may have killed. Now, I will only cut to help one out that has already pipped on its own, and is just stuck with a tough piece of egg shell. My philosophy is if they can't make it out on their own, they are weaklings and probably won't make it anyway.

 

[joshdhensley]

It's a tough call to say when to slit or not. There's no formula saying if the egg is in x situation than cut/don't cut. If I were you I would give them more time. I have had eggs hatch quite a while after sweating, and I've had them hatch after not sweating at all. I think cutting an egg is more of a last resort. I've cut some out before that are still alive now, and I've cut some out that I may have killed. Now, I will only cut to help one out that has already pipped on its own, and is just stuck with a tough piece of egg shell. My philosophy is if they can't make it out on their own, they are weaklings and probably won't make it anyway.

Well said.

 

[Fidel]

Thanks. After posting my gears got turning on the practice of egg cutting. I wonder how this got started? Impatience? Surely the cause of many premature reptile births, I know I've been guilty of it, but there must be those who have soundly justified reasons. Certainly artificial incubation leaves a lot of room for error, possibly giving a reason to cut an egg. I've cut eggs before that I think may not have made it otherwise, but realistically, I'm sure it was luck with a dab of experience. Is there any scientific data on the subject?

 

[westcoastchameleons]

Juli,
Fidel is very right. I have a couple eggs that started to just deflate and sat for about 3 or 4 days at least before piping. Give it some time

Jake

 

[Julirs]

Juli,
Fidel is very right. I have a couple eggs that started to just deflate and sat for about 3 or 4 days at least before piping. Give it some time

Jake

Oh I certainly have, and will. They are now 5 days post sweat, and truly have not shrunken all that much. I tend to follow the "if they don't hatch on their own they are weak" philosophy.

 

[TreelionsUK]

Juli,
Fidel is very right. I have a couple eggs that started to just deflate and sat for about 3 or 4 days at least before piping. Give it some time

Jake

I've had this also all hatched fine