A Got A Free Egg!

cat_named_noodles

cat_named_noodles

New member
So I went to Petsmart today for crickets and they were really busy. OF course I had to look at the leos and low and behold there's this egg in with the adults! Turns out it had been laid today (or after they closed last night). There is a pair currently being housed together (I was a bit shocked to tell you the truth! They should've been housing them individually for obvious reasons).
The female was a slightly underweight Albino of some sort, and the male was a huge SHTCTB with a regenerated tail. I asked them if I could have it and the guy said they weren't supposed to do that. So I asked what do they do with them, and he replied coldy "we're supposed to terminate them." I was like, no, you can't do that, it's like abortion (not that I have anything against or for it just fyi), and that he couldn't do that. So I managed to guilt trip him into giving it to me. I also left with a juvenile female that I felt sorry for and really liked at the same time (see Athena!). I tried really hard not to jostle it and keep the up side up on the way home. It's currently on moist perlite in a tupperware container under a heat bulb. The temp is about 88-89 degrees F, and the humidity is 80%. What else should I be doing to help this guy hatch (If it hasn't died/or is a dud)?
 
cat_named_noodles

cat_named_noodles

New member
Here's some photos of the container w/the egg. It was on Sprocket's cage at the time, but now it's on my desk so I can keep a good eye on it.
 

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A

acpart

Well-known member
If you can keep the temperature and humidity fairly constant, and if the egg was fertile and the embryo didn't die by the time you got it home, there's a chance it will hatch. I hope so. Most people keep the eggs in an incubator but others have hatched eggs successfully without an incubator as long as temp and humidity can be maintained.

Aliza
 
cat_named_noodles

cat_named_noodles

New member
acpart said:
If you can keep the temperature and humidity fairly constant, and if the egg was fertile and the embryo didn't die by the time you got it home, there's a chance it will hatch. I hope so. Most people keep the eggs in an incubator but others have hatched eggs successfully without an incubator as long as temp and humidity can be maintained.

Aliza
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Having it here on my desk I will keep a vigilant eye on it! The temp and humididty have been the same for about 3 hours so I think it might work (if the embryo is alive). When can you candle an egg (or is it even possible w/leo eggs)?
 
cat_named_noodles

cat_named_noodles

New member
So disaster may have struck last night!
My husband turned off the lamp keeping the egg warm thinking it was just a desk lamp :(. The temperature in the container was about 75 this morning! Is that enough deviation to ruin the chance of the egg hatching?
 
Riverside Reptiles

Riverside Reptiles

Administrator (HMFIC)
You should be ok. One cool night isn't going to ruin the egg. Do read the article above that I suggested. It's all the info you should ever really need to incubate leo eggs.
 
Kichi

Kichi

New member
Oh my. I'm not sure which Petsmart you went to. But my local one keeps the eggs and then adopts the babies out free, simply as a tax write off.

I feel sorry for the animals in that store :(

Good luck raising your little ones :)
 
cat_named_noodles

cat_named_noodles

New member
I don't know if theis is normal, I checked on the egg today and both the temp and humidity seem stable, but as I looked at the egg it seems the top has "sunken in" like a little dent. I know they are soft-sheeled eggs, and maybe this is normal but does anyone know? Also, I was still wondering if/how to candle the egg (and when, I know know is too soon). Thanks.
Ethan-I read the article and thank you very much! Very helpful!
 
A

acpart

Well-known member
SInking in a little is OK, but there is a chance it will shrivel and mold. To candle, the easiest thing to do is to put it on the flashlight and look. On the other hand, it's best not to handle the eggs too much, and I have failed to see anything when candling many times only to have a healthy baby hatch.

Aliza
 
cat_named_noodles

cat_named_noodles

New member
What does a moldy egg look like? I know that seems like a dumb question but I've been watching this egg and it seems to have shrunken in more than a little (it doesn't seem round and plump anymore, it's kinda flat on bottom and sunken in on top). I gently touched the top because it looked a little slimy and some white goo was on my finger. I'm thinking the egg is bad, maybe not fertilized or maybe the embryo died in transit. Any suggestions? Should I continue to incubate and see what happens or is it hopeless?
 
cat_named_noodles

cat_named_noodles

New member
Another question- what is the normal mortality rate of eggs and hatchlings, if any? I imagine with the right equipment it's probably close to 0.
 
Allee Toler

Allee Toler

Member
Here's some bad eggs.
breed3.jpg
 
cat_named_noodles

cat_named_noodles

New member
Kichi said:
Oh my. I'm not sure which Petsmart you went to. But my local one keeps the eggs and then adopts the babies out free, simply as a tax write off.

I feel sorry for the animals in that store :(

Good luck raising your little ones :)
Click to expand...

Oh I know, I feel sorry for them too. If I had the $ and time and space for them, I'd rescue more! And it's the Petsmart in Midland, Texas.
Maybe there's some way to write to them saying they should keep there males and females separated (it's bad animal husbandry and a bad example for newbies to begin with!), and to incubate the eggs or give them to discerning leo breeders.
 
Allee Toler

Allee Toler

Member
Lol.... eggsactly.

Seriously, you made me laugh to where my boyfriend was like "I don't see why you're laughing so hard. That was stupid." I could barely breathe. Lol.
 
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