[copasetic]

Hi On 8/3/11 my leopard gecko produced her second clutch ever (1st ones were definitely infertile).

So I have the eggs in a deli container with a lid with teeny tiny holes in it for ventilation- with some moist (but not soaked) vermiculite. I know I'm supposed to leave the eggs alone to avoid disturbance/humidity loss but I can't help myself. I've been checking in on the eggs every few days and have noticed tiny white/almost translucent worm looking things crawling on the eggs (attached pics)! The only way I can actually detect them is by using a flashlight (during one of my failed attempts of candling).

The first time I saw one, I carefully brushed it off the egg onto a q-tip and chalked it up to the eggs either being infertile, or just a bug in the vermiculite (plain vermiculite, purchased a a plant nursery). I looked The second time I saw 3 at once, 2 on one egg, one on the other. I removed the worms, changed the vermiculite all together and carefully returned the eggs to their deli cup. Now, a few days later I just found another one! The pics attached are of the very alive worm that was on my egg.

The eggs themselves look great in terms of smell, healthy color, not shriveled, etc- but i don't know if they're fertile. As mentioned, I've tried candling, but since I don't want to move the eggs from the deli cup, I don't understand how to candle them. One minute they seem like they could be rosy pink w/ veins, and the next minute ill think maybe it's a more yellowish tone. I simply don't have the experience and internet searches look like the person is physically holding the egg in the air to candle it. I do not want to risk dropping the eggs or removing them from their current position. Overall, the eggs don't appear that they've been penetrated by this parasite thing eating the shell or anything- but I'd really like some insight if anyone has any on this or candling


Anyways, I've also done searches on these worms the first 2 times I found them, but had no luck. Any feedback would be great.

Thanks in advance!

[copasetic]

32 views and no one has any idea?


I found 2 more today... eggs still look great.. full, no smell, etc. i gently removed them with q-tip again.... hmph.

[ScottyB]

Hey guy. Sorry that no one knows anything about the worms. Some one is bound to look at this post and know. From the pick they almost look like maggots, but I have know idea.

I too had trouble with candling my tokay's eggs. I found a laser pointer that has a one bulb LED on it. It was small enough to put up to the egg. I also found that putting the light on different parts of the egg yielded different results. I would get red sometimes and yellow another. I just figured that the times when it was yellow I was shinning it through the yoke.

Any way. Good luck with the eggs, and hopefully the worms are not a bad sign.

[caleytkd]

I'm no expert or entomologist but to me they look like some sort of larvae rather than worms. Maybe something to look into? I don't know. Good luck! Sorry I'm not more help lol.

[copasetic]

haha thanks guys. it was my first time posting so i wasn't even sure if i had done it correctly.

you guys really helped me out! i googled "larvae on gecko egg" insteam of worm- and i found this site:

larvae on garg egg - Gecko Resource Forums

In which someone described the same issue and a replies included parasites called nematodes, and fruitfly larvae. I guess fruitflies lay their eggs on soft, moist, decaying matter- so it's very likely the eggs are infertile.


Ill keep 'em until they collapse but the issue has been resolved. Thanks again!
-Kelly.

[Debbie7054]

Please don't throw them away until they start rotting I've had some eggs in the past that looked infertile but turned out not to be. If you're seeing pink and then sometimes yellow it could just be the growing gecko moving around inside its shell. If I were you I'd just keep removing the maggot type things I wouldn't advise using any type of cheical to get rid of them as it will get into the eggs. Good luck with your eggs I hope they hatch out ok.