Hello all just to say, sooo excited my Hermann pair H and M,  M has laid 5 eggs today, so proud of M she's been so busy.                                                                It was only last wk were worried about them, but I think  we know why now, anyway now more worries about incubating condition, have followed the instructions about making a homemade incubator and eggs are in, all I can do now is watch and wait, my concern is temperature, I've got a thermostat with a probe in the egg tray/box,which is set at 31', a humidity thermometer inside the main box its got ranges on it from 40% - 90%  and at the moment is reading 80%, a max/min thermometer for checking heat inside as well, but after reading on here there seems a lot of favour in using a Hygrometer, do you think I should get one or will my basics, do the job.                So want to get it right.  

Hi, it is best to get a Haar Synth hair hygrometer, as correct humidity is crucial, I lost one of my babies it died in the egg as humidity was too high, if its too low the (inner skin) albumin in the egg dries out.

Fingers crossed they are all fertile, best to just leave them alone now (here speaks the voice of experience!! lol).

Vivienne

• Thanks Vivienne, will got out today and purchase one, I also worry about the temp, although thermostat is set at 31' the max/min thermometer in the box is only showing 25' but I suppose that's the air temp not the temp in actual egg tray, omg such a worry  Cath.

Hi Cath,

It's the air temperature directly surrounding the egg that relates to the temperature the egg incubates at.

It sounds as though either the thermostat or the thermometer isn't accurate as that is quite a difference in temperature. It might be worth trying a reading with a second thermometer.

HTH
TC
Darren

Thanks for the reply, Have moved the thermostat prob which was burried in the vermiculite and replaced it, lying it just on the surface of the egg container, thought maybe the probe is reading the egg box not the ambiant air. Eggs were laid about 3pm ish and were in incubater by 5pm I did fiddle with them a couple of times to mark them and write the date on, but then they were left alone, I have bin told today that I have probably already killed them off by moving them, I hope not, just havetoo wait and see. thanks again cath.   

Hi there and congratulations on your eggs. Don't worry about having handled and moved them. The reason reptile eggs are not turned like birds eggs is that the embryonic foetus settles and develops on top of the yolk. Once this has happened turning the egg smothers the embryo with the yolk sac. After two hours this would not have happened. Good luck with the eggs!

Thanks Kirkie, I was caught on the hop completely, wasn't prepared had to rush round and find incubator stuff and info,,then put all into action,,even though they are a proper pair and male seems to be very very active/interested shall we say, even to the point I thought I would hav'to split them up, I didn't know if he had actually managed to do the business, daft question but when there are eggs does that mean he actually has ( done his bit ) or can a Tort develop eggs without being mated and are eggs always fertile at birth/laying,  I so hope all is well, I would be happy if only 1 out of the 5 hatch but would be fantastic if we had more,thanks again Cath.

Hi,

I have a female Hermanns that laid four eggs two months ago. Unfortunately they dont appear to be fertile. I have only had this girl since Feb, she has been living alone and the previous owner told me she lived alone for at least 6 months, so yes they will lay eggs without a sucessful mating/fertilisation. The presence of a male can stimulate a female to develop eggs I believe.

You could candle the eggs in a few weeks to see if there is any development, this is done using a bright light (such as a maglite tortch) shone through the egg. This can be done with the egg in situ. I've seen lots of great pictures of candled eggs this year so rather than explain what to look for, have a look at this thread http://shelledwarriors.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=28064

Hope it all goes well for you.

Hi all, just a quick update, on Eggs, have 5 Hermann's, 2 have chalked  over and can vaguely see some veins, 3 don't seem to be doing much just got a very noticeable air bubble to one side and are a slightly pinker colour compared to the other 2, is this a sign that they're not fertile? sooo excited finding it very hard to be patient. Also how soon after laying could she lay more, her partner has been his usual frisky self, I think she's looking/sniffs the ground a lot and seems to be searching for something, its only been 2 wks since her last clutch.  cath.

Hi Cath,

Congratultions with the eggs. It sounds like the pinker ones might be fertile but id be inclined to leave well alone if you are not sure. The other chalky/porcelin ones sound like it is a positive sign especially if they are showing veins. Try not to handle them too much, i know its hard but its a case of playing the waiting game as you have quite a while to go yet. My female layed more eggs a month after her first lot so dont be surprised if you see more eggs soon.

Ali

 urgent advice needed, checked eggs last nite and theres a hair line crack along top from end to end, soooo shocked  will be devestated if its the end for this one as theres definatly a little fellow inside, 5 wks now and all was going well untill this, have been adviced to seal it with clear nail varnish but afraid this maybe too toxic, ANY HELP cath  

Hi, this is what I have heard is the best way to seal the egg shell, make sure you don't break the inner membrane, you need to seal it quickly as the inner membrane will dry out.

Let us know how you get on.

Regards Vivienne

Hi Vivienne

Thanks for your reply since posting I was adviced by someone on the shelled warrior site to use the spray on elasterplast which is clear and non toxic,thought it safer, seems to be working, fingers crossed only another 2/3 wks to go     Cath