CROCLIST: Crocodylus intermedius

[Adam Britton]

Fabian,

I really would like to see a decent photo of these eggs. It's like advising
a pilot how to land a plane without having seen the runway.

Thin, horizontal lines on the upper side of the egg? Across the equatorial
(short) axis, or the polar axis? It could be decomposition along the edges
of incomplete banding (ie. dead embryo, died midway through incubation
several weeks ago, though you should see discolouration), it could be swell
cracks, it could be nothing.

If the eggs don't smell, it suggests that either the embryos died very young
(there is far less material to decompose), that they died very recently (and
haven't started to decompose) or that they are alive. Let's be optimistic
and assume the latter.

Given how little we seem to know of the incubation period for this species,
if I was in your situation I'd give them the benefit of the doubt and retain
them in incubation conditions for a little longer. 100 days is within the
normal incubation time of viable eggs for other species at slightly lower
incubation temperatures.

Having said that, I would definitely start thinking about opening one egg
carefully - the one that looks least likely to hatch - to check for
viability of the embryo within. However, that's entirely your choice and not
one I'm going to make for you! Not being able to see the eggs really does
make such a decision very difficult. If you did open one egg using a minor
incision, and it did have a live embryo within it, obviously leave it be
until it hatches normally. Remember, as soon as you open the egg you risk
bacterial infection of the embryonic tissues, and naturally any flies will
immediately find a warm home for their maggots, but very late stage embryos
should be ok. If the embryo is obviously dead (or non-existent), remove
what's left of it and carefully assess the stage of development it's at.

If anyone else has any other thoughts, let us know.

Best wishes,

Adam

----- Original Message -----
From: "Fabián Aguirre" <crocodylus@mac.com>
To: <croclist@croclist.gatorhole.com>
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 7:16 AM
Subject: CROCLIST: Crocodylus intermedius


> Hello all,
> Today is day 98 for the incubating eggs of C. intermedius. They look white
and do not smell. Two of them developed thin, barely noticeable horizontal
lines on the upper side of the egg, and are becoming a little more opaque.
>
> How much longer do we wait?
>
> Fabian
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