Eggs incubation to hatching?

[Montyrom]

Has anyone carefully watched chameleon eggs through the incubation period to hatching time?

So many books and web sites say the egg sweats and dimples/collapses.

Has anyone any photos of each days stage and can they describe each days changes to a first time egg watcher?

My Brev's have laid viable eggs which have grown beautifully and are white and very plump...

One is old enough to be on the verge of pipping and over night went from a cadburys mini egg size to an egg half it's size and much darker brown colour it is sweating a little and the other egg in this tub is still large and white.

Can someone reassure me that this is normal as I have read sites where people have said their eggs look dead and people have told them they are about to hatch... I am hoping that my eggs are due to hatch very soon.

If anyone has suitable photos could they please forward them to me - just to put my mind at ease?

I have had non fertile eggs go bad but they take days to do this - not overnight. I know that I will find out in the next few days - but the waiting is torment!

Cheers...

 

[Julirs]

With Brev eggs I find it is usually less than a day from sweat to hatch. I usually see them sweating, they deflate a little and then you see a nose or a baby. The much darker brown color is a bit unusual. Do you have pics of them?

 

[Julirs]

OK-this thread of mine shows pyg eggs and hatching.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/my-first-hatchling-meet-13147/

 

[kinyonga]

http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=111

 

[Montyrom]

Thanks everyone,

After looking at the link that you very kindly provided...

My eggs look fertile and look like the healthy ones except the two oldest which have gone a golden brown over night, sweated and sunken, they have been like this since thursday... I had hoped this was normal... hence asking the questions - the others all look white and normal.

I will put pictures on here (hopefully this evening).

I think I shall open the first one to change colour up tonight to see what has happened.

Many thanks again to everyone who has replied.

 

[Montyrom]

I opened up the two brown eggs to find little perfect dead Brev's.

I've doubled checked the moisture and temps and all seem fine.

The eggs sit in tubs of vermiculite and sit in my lounge with a thermometer.

I check them everyday since the peoples expectation of incubation periods ranges from 40-80 days.

The only thing I can think of is that the Mum's were not given enough suppliment before I had them and the egg skins were not of a suitable thickness for them to escape.

I got them in March already pregnant (as I found out later). Since I have owned them they have had their food dusted at least every other day as they are laying quite often.

I am now watching the other larger eggs and will act if i see them sweat and then not emerge with a few hours after.

Thank you all very much for the photos and links - they have helped enormously! (especially since the search engines here in England do not immediatley pick these links up).

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Montyrom]

OK-this thread of mine shows pyg eggs and hatching.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/my-first-hatchling-meet-13147/

P*S*

Primo is adorable!!!

 

[kinyonga]

You said..."The eggs sit in tubs of vermiculite and sit in my lounge with a thermometer"...are they kept in the dark?

How moist is your vermiculite?

 

[Montyrom]

Yes, they are in the dark.

They are in cricket tubs in a dark area of the lounge which has no drafts and have a tea towel on top to make it darker.

I don't think the vermiculite is not too wet it's dry to touch, but when you sqeeze it tightly a little water gently seeps out - about the same as the soil in the bottom of the viv, where she laid the eggs.

I have not candled them as many people say it can kill the embryo's.

 

[kinyonga]

I've never covered over any containers with a tea towel. I don't know if this would have anything to do with it or not.

 

[Montyrom]

They were in the nursery tank in their boxes, which was pretty dark, but not completely.

I have now moved them and covered them to keep a closer eye on them.

The towel is to ensure complete darkness and to help maintain a constant temperature.

Thanks for the help, The next ones to hatch will be soon.

But maybe the first ones were just not meant to be.

 

[Montyrom]

Success!!!

Two eggs have hatched!

Saturday morning two beautiful, perfect little Brev's appeared!

I think one male and one female.

They are both eating well on fruit flies and micro crickets.

Many thanks for everyones help and support!

Sam

 

[Julirs]

Very cool! Pics!