Eggs: How delicate are they?

[joprukop22]

I realize that temperature is very important for egg development. I have heard that it should be in between 82 and 84 F. Will they not incubate well in regular soil or is a perlite/vermiculite mix necessary? I have not been able to find this stuff without some sort of additive or MiracleGrow already in it. The eggs were layed April 16, 2010 and they have been in soil. Should I switch them out with this other substrate? And does relocating them pose any danger? I was very cautious when picking them up out of the nesting box. I have hatched 2 clutches before but I always want to look for improvements and new knowledge.

 

[spyder79]

Where are you looking for your perlite? I have never had a problem finding non-fertilized perlite. The reason vermiculite and/or perlite are the suggested mediums for egg incubation is because they have a much lower chance of mold occuring. Another thing you can try (what I plan on doing this year) is Suspension Incubation. This keeps the eggs out of the substrate entirely, allowing for a higher rate of gas exchange and healthier eggs. As to how fragile they are, So long as you do not turn them or drop them, and you keep as little contact as possible between your hands and the eggs (id suggest a latex glove so that you wont have to worry about skin oils blocking up the poors on the eggs) you will be fine.

 

[joprukop22]

I looked at Wal*Mart, Lowes, and some other small town places here. I think I will need to go to a plant nursery to get it. What is suspension incubation?

 

[spyder79]

Here is a link to the premade containers you can purchase
http://www.squamataconcepts.com/

Though its simple to build your own.

Here is a link to a good "DIY" container.
http://www.herpcenter.com/suspension-incubation-container.html

 

[joprukop22]

Thanks for the great links. I think I will try to make one today.It seems like a promising idea.

 

[spyder79]

Thanks for the great links. I think I will try to make one today.It seems like a promising idea.

Yep, just make sure you put some rows in for the eggs to keep them from rolling around.

and you are welcome :mrgreen:

I only do 2 things, help people or piss people off and I do both well lol

 

[ChellyBeans]

I only do 2 things, help people or piss people off and I do both well lol

Truth! :lol: :lol:

 

[BaltimoreBeardies]

I realize that temperature is very important for egg development. I have heard that it should be in between 82 and 84 F. Will they not incubate well in regular soil or is a perlite/vermiculite mix necessary? I have not been able to find this stuff without some sort of additive or MiracleGrow already in it. The eggs were layed April 16, 2010 and they have been in soil. Should I switch them out with this other substrate? And does relocating them pose any danger? I was very cautious when picking them up out of the nesting box. I have hatched 2 clutches before but I always want to look for improvements and new knowledge.

Temps are of course important, BUT what temps do they incubate in the wild??? Good question right... Every one who breeds bearded dragons knows there suppose to incubate between 82 and 85.
I have read that in the wild dragon eggs incubate around 75 degrees.
Also i have forgotten/missed an egg, a female had layed and it incubated inside of the lay bin. When i took temp readings on my lay bin it was only reading 74 degrees. It took that particular dragon 78 days to hatch, compared to the 64-68 days that the others hatched at. BUT it still incubated and hatched, it lived and thrived like any other dragon...
As for the soil, I know what you mean. I have to go to a little privately owned nursery. UNTIL i experimented with "forrest bed" / " Eco-Earth". The stuff thats in a brick form and you use water to make it expand. Good soil for dart frog newts etc... I use it in my lay bin AND i use it for my eggs to incubate on. I havent had a mold problem or anything else from this soil. You can find it at any pet store, or reptile show.

 

[joprukop22]

A question I have always thought of. I know there arent a bunch of little dragon eggs in incubators scattered throughout the Australian landscape. :lol: I know those eggs incubate in slightly fluctuating temperatures, various humidity, and various substrate but we will manage to have them running around out there. However, we have improved the chances of survival by doing research and discovering how to incubate these babies in better or even prime conditions. I wonder how the captive population compares to the native population of dragons?

 

[spyder79]

A question I have always thought of. I know there arent a bunch of little dragon eggs in incubators scattered throughout the Australian landscape. :lol: I know those eggs incubate in slightly fluctuating temperatures, various humidity, and various substrate but we will manage to have them running around out there. However, we have improved the chances of survival by doing research and discovering how to incubate these babies in better or even prime conditions. I wonder how the captive population compares to the native population of dragons?

I would be willing to bet that the captive population throughout the world far out numbers the wild population in Oz. i am unsure if there are any studies to that effect. But maybe someone will know more than just their guess lol.

 

[joprukop22]

I agree. I bet there are way more captive bred beardies than wild ones. And I am sure that goes for a lot of other popular reptile and amphibian species. I wonder if there has been any genetic changes (speciation) in any captive populations. But that's the curious biologist in me :]