Slug or viable

[Diamond_Dan]

Gday. My jungle has laid and produced the egg pictured. Im sure i have read that similar looking eggs can be viable. Im not convinced but I put it in the incubator anyway. I havent candled it as I just wanted to get the eggs into the incubator without messing with them too much. I was wondering anyones thoughts.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

 

[Buggster]

There is a possiblility that it may be viable.
Leave it for a couple days and then try candling- if you don't see any veins on it then it's most likely a slug.

 

[pythoninfinite]

99% chance it's a slug. Do you have some cling-film over these eggs?

Jamie

 

[Diamond_Dan]

The container has a lid yeah. There is a 10mm hole at one end for air flow. Was thinking of another at the opposite side to increase flow but wanna keep humidity up. I can always drill one in later


Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

 

[pythoninfinite]

You don't need a hole in the lid as long as you can remove the lid every couple of days to allow gaseous exchange. I usually have half a dozen 2-3mm holes in my eggbox lids - it's all you need and won't allow much water loss.

Jamie

 

[Diamond_Dan]

Cool man. Thanks for the tip. The hole is in the side to run thermostat into the egg box.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

 

[pythoninfinite]

Cool man. Thanks for the tip. The hole is in the side to run thermostat into the egg box.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

If there's a bit of a gap, you can plug it with a bit of blutac to reduce moisture loss. Just make sure that if you get condensation building up on the inside of the lid, you don't allow it to drip on the eggs or they will die - the water film stops the gas exchange and basically drowns them. A light film or haze of condensation is perfect because it indicates that you humdity is close to 100% without being too wet. A heavy buildup of condensation which might drip is usually caused by having your incubator heat source under the eggbox, so that evaporated water condenses on the inside of the lid because it is cooler than the bottom. Placing a small computer fan in the incubator usually evens out the heat distribution and greatly reduces the prospect of dripping on the eggs, but simply removing the lid carefully and wiping the wetness away every day or two can work just as well.

Jamie

 

[Diamond_Dan]

There is a light mist of condensation on the lid. Not enough to drip tho but its early days. I did play with a fan but it altered the temp. A computer fan might be a good idea as it shouldnt produce as much heat. A few questions though.
1. If i wipe away condensation wont that take water out of the vermiculite and decrease humidity. Probably negligible I guess.
2. The age old question. Fan at top or bottom. Keepnot on all the time or on a timer.

I love playing with the process to see what works best.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

 

[Diamond_Dan]

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

 

[Diamond_Dan]

I meant to type keep the fan on all the time or on a timer

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

 

[Diamond_Dan]

Heat cord is taped with aluminium tape in a spiral pattern around the incubator.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

 

[kittycat17]

My fan is at the bottom and on 24/7

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pythoninfinite]

You only need a very small fan - just enough to keep the air circulating 24/7, and it doesn't take much because the heat output from cords is very gentle. It may not be a good idea to do it this time, as the eggs are already incubating, but if you have room in the incubator, it's a good idea to put a few plastic milk bottles full of water in there before the eggs arrive and allow them to reach the appropriate temp, to act as a heat-sink, which helps reduce short-term temperature fluctuations, and will reduce heat loss if you have a power outage.

As long as the condensation is only a fine misty film inside the eggbox, you can leave it. It's only when it becomes heavy and likely to drip that it's a problem.

Jamie

 

[Diamond_Dan]

I candled the egg tonight. Looks pretty vascular.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

 

[beach]

If you don't wish to use a fan, put a folded newspaper on the top of egg container this greatly slows the heat exchange which causes the condensation. beach

 

[Diamond_Dan]

Interesting idea. A fan is a great idea. Probably should have experimented more before the eggs went in. Next time fore sure

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

 

[Diamond_Dan]

Update. I came home from a weekend away and the questionable egg has mould over it and was a bit smelly. I decided to dispose of it to keep the remaining eggs healthy.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk