One of my girls laid a clutch about two weeks ago. The incubation tub i set up reads 99% humidity and the temperature is staying between 88 and 89 (it was a consistent 88.6 before i put the water into the substrate and the eggs in).
The eggs are wrinkly, they still look healthy, i know the humidity is high…is there anything i can do? Will them being wrinkly hurt them? This is my first clutch and i really dont want to lose it…
Not a breeder yet, but I am doing research to start,
From what I know the wrinkling isn’t the biggest problem but with excessive humidity keep an eye out for the eggs becoming mouldy. Which I believe anything between 90%-100% is okay? Not sure on that but it’s what I’ve read, but if there’s water droplets getting on the egg that would cause an issue for mould I believe.
If in doubt candle them again and check for healthy veins and another thing I’ve seen used repeatedly, is breeders say incubate even if in doubt and just act as normal and wait for the latest hatch date
Hopefully some more experienced breeders will chip in and give more advice
Do you have a picture of the eggs? And how is the incubator and tub set up?
Some wrinkles are fine. Not every egg is perfect. But too much is usually y a sign of too little humidity. If the probe for the hydrometer is touching substrate it can be reading too high. The air humidity can be too low if the tub is missing a bit of press and seal or cling wrap to help keep it in better.
They all have really steong veins and are all looking healthy, humidity is where its needed (i do believe 90%+ humidity is what they need)
The hydrometer im using is attached to the side of the tub, so not touching substrate at all, i also just added press and seal, as i was thinking about it and wondered if having been lacking it was causing them to stay wrinkly
It may take them a bit to plump up, but sometimes they just stay wrinkled. But the press and seal should keep it humid enough to keep them from drying out more.
Just make sure that there isn’t water dripping on the eggs or the eggs aren’t touching the sides where the condensation can hit it. I keep my boxes on a slight tilt to make sure the drips don’t happen in the middle