Do eggs change in appearance?

[koppite]

Just wondering what are the signs to look out for with incubating eggs and what any change in appearance may indicate?

I know 'test' eggs are clear like jelly in appearance from the start and lack the hard calcium shell, but i have 2 lots of eggs on the go at present, which i hope will be ok and hatch out

My ovum eggs were 4weeks old this weekend just gone, so i guess anytime within the next fortnight i will find out if they are dud's or goods, these eggs have not really changed at all that i can tell in size or colour - so i hope all is going ok here??

The other eggs i have are reti eggs, but only have i think 4, which were not laid in the same pile but somewhat spread about, and had prob been there a couple of days before i found them - but these ones have changed colour somewhat, they started out a yellowy whitish colour, but now appear an orangy colour, but i have them incubating in coir, so not sure if they are 'bad' eggs or they have got slight colour from the damp coir??

All info as always greatly appreciated

cheers

[crossless]

Hmmh.. I have noticed with these 4 to 5 clutches that first there are white, the yellow when baby is growing inside and near that time they hatch they will turn to white again. i never really before let any eggs to hatch but now there are going to food so it's really wierd notice that color changing. o.O

[AlienSnail]

For Achatina / Archachatina species: Quite often failed eggs will turn orange/rusty coloured either in their entirety or in blotches. Occasionally some failed ones will have green tinges.

Other than that eggs that are fertile usually vary between white and creamy yellow. They should not grow/shrink or change shape.

Some snail species lay soft eggs, and some of these may take on a slightly brown tinge before the snails hatch, this is because these soft eggs are slightly opaque.

[koppite]

ok, cool thanks for that - so i guess the reti eggs are prob duds then

but the ovums seem to be going strong - so will keep my eye out, like i check them every day as they are against the side wall so can see them without disturbing them...... guess 'm just a big kid

[AlienSnail]

haha I know the feeling. It's exciting when they hatch. Good luck with them. it is worth keeping your retic eggs for a few more weeks just in case..... sometimes they surprise you!

[koppite]

yeah, will keep the eggs like you say, i may get a surprise....

hoping some others will lay soon, most are at a reasonable size now, so fingers crossed for some action