Candled first clutch of the season, something is off!

[preacher]

Well my first clutch of the season is here five eggs, four looking good from size and shape, and one is a half slug (meaning it is half slug and half good egg) laid 4/3/12. These are from a 100%het pied male to a 66% possible het pied female first clutch.

As you can see (all though not as well as it looked in the dark) the first three eggs are veined up really well, no problem there.

But when you look at the next two eggs you will see a single big red spot in the egg and no veins, but the pictures are really good on these. The first one is the largest egg in the clutch and really bums me out and the last one is the half slug. (Had to add the last picture in a second post!)

I am hoping they will develop veins over the next few days but time will tell.
Have any of you ever seen this before? Last year’s clutches were either veined or had nothing, these last two look like Bearded dragon eggs when they are laid just much larger.

 

[preacher]

Here is the last picture of the half slug egg!

 

[AGoodwin]

What is the deal with the "half slug"? How does that work. Does it mean there is a live baby forming in there, a CHANCE of there being a live baby or is it twins with one being good, one bad?

 

[ElfReptiles]

Maybe you need a brighter flashlight? Here is a pic of a egg I candled from a clutch laid march 5th

Its hard to tell by your pics for me. Really dark

 

[Focal]

They look like duds. I would hold onto them until I was positive though.

 

[Focal]

For the flash light, I like the ones with a cove that allows the all the light to seal around the egg. Harbor Frieght has some good, cheap LED flashlights for like $1.

 

[preacher]

What is the deal with the "half slug"? How does that work. Do is there a live baby forming in there, a CHANCE of there being a live baby or is it twins with one being good, one bad?

Amanda, What I call a half slug is an egg that is only partially fully developed. I have included two photos to show what I am trying to describe they are the actual clutch. It is one egg that if it were to hatch would hold one baby in theory. It is just not fully developed as you can see. But it is not a boob egg as there are two of those in this clutch the half slug is much less developed. Thanks for the question, hope I explained that better for you as I too am still learning.

Maybe you need a brighter flashlight? Here is a pic of a egg I candled from a clutch laid march 5th

Its hard to tell by your pics for me. Really dark

Eric, the issue isn't just the flash light it is however the photographer!! LOL The eggs were lit up very well but I could not capture it very well. I won't give up my day job that’s for sure.

They look like duds. I would hold onto them until I was positive though.

Nick thanks! I will let them in with the others I just thought it was strange to see the blood spot in each but no veins especially on the largest one in the clutch. I will hope for the best and be thankful for what I receive.

 

[ElfReptiles]

Any reason why you are not using a substrate mixed with water in your egg box setup?

Seems it would be easy to splash water around and on the eggs when moving the box around. I use essentially the same setup but just with perlite in the bottom with water then grate on that.

Just an observation. not saying that setup is wrong. Just curious why no substrate.

 

[AGoodwin]

Amanda, What I call a half slug is an egg that is only partially fully developed. I have included two photos to show what I am trying to describe they are the actual clutch. It is one egg that if it were to hatch would hold one baby in theory. It is just not fully developed as you can see. But it is not a boob egg as there are two of those in this clutch the half slug is much less developed. Thanks for the question, hope I explained that better for you as I too am still learning.

Thanks for the explanation. I am just starting to breed and am still waiting for my first clutch so I don't have any experience to go off.

 

[Willow]

That is also called a "boob egg" and seems to be a common occurrence with ball pythons.

Many boob eggs hatch fine, many do not. It varys with each egg.

I personally hatched a 20 gram enchi lesser female from a boob egg much worst then then ones you're showing, but sadly she never started eating on her own and therefor did not thrive.

I would assume duds as well on the ones that have no veins...BUT I have seen people think they have duds before just to get nice strong veins after a few days....so I'd leave em in the incubator for now.

 

[preacher]

Any reason why you are not using a substrate mixed with water in your egg box setup?

Seems it would be easy to splash water around and on the eggs when moving the box around. I use essentially the same setup but just with perlite in the bottom with water then grate on that.

Just an observation. not saying that setup is wrong. Just curious why no substrate.

Hey Eric, I did a bit of reading and decided I liked this method over the others, less mess and fewer items to purchase! Yes you are right you can get the eggs wet if you are not careful but I try (key point and not easy to do) not to bother the eggs other than to open the container for air circulation once a week. And that is the beauty of being in this hobby there are so many ways to do things that allows for individualism and discussion of the different ways to sucessfully raise up and develope the industry.

Thanks for the explanation. I am just starting to breed and am still waiting for my first clutch so I don't have any experience to go off.

There are a lot of folks on this forum who have been an invaluable help to me and I encourage you to ask lots of questions and use the search tool often! I still do and am blessed by the many caring people who contribute to this awesome forum. Hint, hint, you may want to become a contributing member the worth of information here is worth investing in to keep this sight up and growing!!

That is also called a "boob egg" and seems to be a common occurrence with ball pythons.

Many boob eggs hatch fine, many do not. It varys with each egg.

I personally hatched a 20 gram enchi lesser female from a boob egg much worst then then ones you're showing, but sadly she never started eating on her own and therefor did not thrive.

I would assume duds as well on the ones that have no veins...BUT I have seen people think they have duds before just to get nice strong veins after a few days....so I'd leave em in the incubator for now.

Willow, thanks I was not sure what to call that one as it is the most undeveloped egg I have seen laid, other than a true slug of corse. I will keep them in the incubator and hope they do develope veins over the nest few days.

 

[AGoodwin]

There are a lot of folks on this forum who have been an invaluable help to me and I encourage you to ask lots of questions and use the search tool often! I still do and am blessed by the many caring people who contribute to this awesome forum. Hint, hint, you may want to become a contributing member the worth of information here is worth investing in to keep this sight up and growing!!.

I already am

 

[preacher]

I already am

My bad! I never took notice to your coins, My wife tells me men never see for looking I guess in my case she is correct!