Breeding Monitors Part Ten: Egg incubation

[@therappingrooster8]

crazy that Ive followed this series for 6 years while never owning a monitor

[@crocdoc2]

That's awesome!

[@CypressWalker]

Sir, this series is worthy of a dvd box set

[@crocdoc2]

I had considered that at one stage!

[@tashdog1]

1000% agree

[@Primordia23]

Agreed

[@andrerossouw5285]

Thank you so much for this video🙏🏼 3 tree monitor eggs owe you the world for this info✊🏻

[@crocdoc2]

You're welcome! I am happy people are using the videos.

[@soothersgreenjackson]

The hobby owes you mate , fantastic 🎉

[@crocdoc2]

Thanks!

[@xavierhart100]

thank you so much for this series, been staying tuned in since your first 3 episodes the amount of value in these videos is priceless, god bless you and good luck

[@crocdoc2]

@xavierhart100 Thank you! A lot of work goes into them so I am happy to hear when they are appreciated.

[@scottgilbert-barrow4639]

Thank you so very much for this series of videos. I can only imagen the time and hard work it's taken. It's helping me after my fluke breeding of timorensis. Hopefully I shall get them going again.

[@albertogn2004]

Finally! Thank you, David, for another great video

[@crocdoc2]

And you're first to comment!

[@TamNguyen-zv9pd]

Thanks David, I watch your videos especially 6,7, and 8 episodes, like 1000 times, recently got 5 good egg for my female w her first clutch. Good job.

[@crocdoc2]

@@TamNguyen-zv9pd Thanks!

[@albertogn2004]

@@crocdoc2I’ve been waiting!

[@23ab1]

Absolutely brilliant video. I focus primarily on coturnix quail breeding, incubating, and raising, but it's interesting to see a reptilian perspective on the matter!

[@VicenteGiordano]

Amazing series. Looking forward to more content

[@crocdoc2]

Thank you!

[@sirforest9453]

fantastic end to this series! The general knowlege has helped me so much with my Varanus primordius, I had a clutch in august but she unfortunately dudded out, so hopefully I will have eggs here in the spring!!!

[@jrexplorers1535]

Truly awesome work

[@crocdoc2]

Thank you!

[@davidec.4021]

Oh yes we are still going babe wake up Crocdoc posted again

[@Superior_reptiles]

I have been waiting for this video thank you

[@guizmowhy3427]

Hello, in the twenty years of hatching that you've had, have you noticed that the eggs hatch more in the morning, in the evening or some other time? This video, and the others, are a mine of knowledge, thank you very much.

[@crocdoc2]

@@guizmowhy3427 Thanks!! I haven't noticed any pattern in time of day and they SEEM to hatch randomly, but on the other hand I only check on the eggs intermittently and don't monitor them (pun unintentional) so it's possible there's a pattern I simply haven't detected.

[@guizmowhy3427]

@@crocdoc2 Thank you very much for your answer. I have another question that seems important to me for the incubation to go well. You use a polyethylene stretch plastic film to cover the box before closing the lid because it allows gas exchange. I am in France and I realize that it is not easy to find polyethylene (PE) plastic films. Is there another material for stretch plastic film that also allows gas exchange? Thank you very much

[@crocdoc2]

@@guizmowhy3427 There may be something else that works but I wouldn't be able to tell you what it is as I don't know. Is there no Gladwrap type product there?

[@guizmowhy3427]

@@crocdoc2 there are plastic films but often the composition is not indicated. What brand is the elongated box where all the eggs are aligned (fish type box) please?

[@crocdoc2]

@@guizmowhy3427 The brand is Decor. They sell them in grocery outlets in Australia.

[@joshuaortiz8800]

Great video. Do you use distilled water in your incubation substrate or has tap or filtered water been sufficient?

[@crocdoc2]

Thanks! Tap water is fine.

[@ThomasHill-f3x]

what did you use the backround

[@crocdoc2]

I made a mould and then cast it using polyurethane elastomers.

[@ThomasHill-f3x]

@@crocdoc2 do you think you could do a tutorial

[@chandarithchoeurng7256]

1- Do we need to piece the glad wrap while putting holes in the top or only piece the lid? 2- How long have you changed from your put holes in the top of the lid to put the plastic grid?

[@crocdoc2]

1. There is no need to pierce the glad wrap as that would defeat the purpose (to keep moisture in). It allows enough gas exchange without holes. 2. I don't understand your second question - what plastic grid?

[@chandarithchoeurng7256]

2- In your video show, I mean that plastic shelf under egg after you pick egg up perlite. 3- And one question sir, how long have you been kept eggs in perlite?

[@crocdoc2]

@@chandarithchoeurng7256 2 - Ah, I see now. I've always used the gladwrap + holes in the lid method, when I was incubating on perlite and then when I switched to incubating over water. 3 - I used perlite for around 8-10 years before switching to incubating over water, I think.

[@guizmowhy3427]

Hello, when the incubation is near the end, the eggs hollow or decrease in volume a little, when you cand the eggs, have you noticed that the veins reduce a lot to the point of almost disappearing at the moment they pierce? Can we hypothesize that the reduction of the veins no longer providing as much oxygen causes a reaction in the embryo which mechanically pushes it to pierce the shell? It is a fascinating subject to understand what is happening in this autonomous unit. Thanks

[@crocdoc2]

@@guizmowhy3427 It's true that the veins shut down when the hatchling pips, but it pips first and they shut down once the hatchling starts breathing with its lungs

[@tashdog1]

Good video, do you think your do a husbandry video.

[@crocdoc2]

It would have to be a generic monitor husbandry video, or how to raise young monitors

[@guizmowhy3427]

hello, because the box is filmed and covered with a lid, do you open the incubator regularly to change the air? If so, how often ? as the incubator does not take air from the outside, this is a question I ask myself. THANKS

[@crocdoc2]

Not very often. Every few weeks.

[@guizmowhy3427]

@@crocdoc2 Yours sincerely Thank you for your reply. I'd like to know if there's a water/filter wool ratio when using the plastic film method, in order to put in the right amount of water and ensure good hygrometry? Maybe it depends on the size of the box? Thank you for your understanding. See you soon

[@crocdoc2]

@@guizmowhy3427 That's the beauty of the suspension method: It doesn't matter how much water is in there as long as there is water in there. Once the air is saturated it's saturated. Too much water just means there's a chance of splashing the eggs when you move the egg box around, that's all (which is why the filter wool is used).

[@guizmowhy3427]

@@crocdoc2 Thanks for these insights. I have another question that may seem silly, but in an environment saturated with water in the form of gas, why fear water splashes when it's the same molecule?

[@crocdoc2]

@@guizmowhy3427 I talk about that in the video. Water droplets in direct contact with the shell are absorbed passively via osmosis but the absorption of water as a vapour can be controlled by the egg.

[@reywashere5284]

I work with several monitor species for my job and would really appreciate whatever information you can share on reading their body language. I interact a lot with a highly social asian water monitor, and I have noticed that some behaviors generally associated with negativity - puffing the neck, rapid tongue flicks, and erect pisture - can express excitement rather than fear, as he continues to behave calmly while being interacted with/held. Any other tips you can give for improving the training of already well socialized monitors would be appreciated!

[@crocdoc2]

Are you a member of any of the Facebook monitor groups?

[@chandarithchoeurng7256]

How old is clouded monitor lizard begin mating to produce the egg first time?

[@crocdoc2]

In captivity, probably two years or so.

[@randyada8363]

Have you had any luck with incubating and raising a healthy pathogenesis hatchling ?

[@aleknajarian7808]

Since you put holes in the top of the lid and put glad wrap over the egg box lid, do you still vent the eggs during incubation or do you leave them be, because of the airflow thats already happening due to the glad wrap and holes in the lid?

[@crocdoc2]

That depends on how busy I am with other things. I'll often just ignore them for the duration of incubation. At most they may get ventilated once every month or two, but often not at all for most of incubation. I've had clutches that I haven't ventilated at all until I had to open the lid to take hatchlings out.

[@michaelsanchez440]

It has been 6 years in a making.

[@crocdoc2]

Yeah, my day job kept me busy :-)

[@nuw5396]

Wow it's been forever since the last one.

[@randyada8363]

How did you make your background

[@crocdoc2]

I made a mould and then casted the rock by painting the inside of the mould with polyurethane elastomers.

[@randyada8363]

@@crocdoc2 do you still have your monitors ? and how's the background holding up ?

[@crocdoc2]

@@randyada8363 I moved the monitors into an outdoor enclosure when I moved house a little over five years ago. The mock rock background was still intact when I gave that enclosure away. It had experienced constant monitor abuse for twenty-something years, with only the odd repair here and there. I've since stopped keeping reptiles, mainly because I live in a house that backs onto bush so I just enjoy watching wild reptiles (including monitors) and other wildlife from my back deck.

[@randyada8363]

How big was your outdoor enclosures ? In your past experience have you kept a male and female in the same enclosure together? Did you happen to get a chance to keep a raise a perntie ?

[@randyada8363]

How or did you ever cut your monitors nails ?

[@CypressWalker]

Master YoDoc, I have a question. Do we know why males will push out the hemipenes even if a female isn't around?

[@crocdoc2]

Depends what else it is doing at the time. Defecating or scent marking?

[@CypressWalker]

@@crocdoc2 I've seen mine do it a couple of times over a year, but he was housed solo. I always wondered if it was scent related. I've seen the female sniff him under the tail a few times during courting.

[@crocdoc2]

@@CypressWalker Which species? Sounds like something V. albigularis would do.

[@CypressWalker]

@@crocdoc2 the male is a flavirufus and the female is an argus