Needing help with my eastern box turtle eggs

[baby box turtle]

They have been being incubated in a diy Styrofoam cooler for 16 days now. The heat has been 84/85°f with humidity at 81/82% they're on vermiculite in two bowl containers with lids I put a few holes but condensation still collects at top right above the eggs is that ok ? what do I do, or am I doing anything wrong or could i be doing anything more????????

 

[Markw84]

Everything looks good. However, the substrate looks to be a bit too wet. I mix vermiculite with water by equal weight. So if 200g of vermiculite, I will add 200g of water. Mix that thoroughly and then place the eggs 1/2 buried. I do want some condensation on the lid, but not too much where it starts to form drops.

I also place the sensor for the thermostat in the container between the eggs. Probably fine where you have it in this small incubator, but I like to control the temperature as it is at the eggs. One of the holes in the side of an egg container I make just large enough to slip the probe into.

 

[baby box turtle]

Everything looks good. However, the substrate looks to be a bit too wet. I mix vermiculite with water by equal weight. So if 200g of vermiculite, I will add 200g of water. Mix that thoroughly and then place the eggs 1/2 buried. I do want some condensation on the lid, but not too much where it starts to form drops.

I also place the sensor for the thermostat in the container between the eggs. Probably fine where you have it in this small incubator, but I like to control the temperature as it is at the eggs. One of the holes in the side of an egg container I make just large enough to slip the probe into.

Ok so do I make new mix and move them to it? Or do I add a paper towel on top I just don't want to do anything wrong to cause them not to be able to hatch

 

[baby box turtle]

I go in and open the kids every couple days and drain off the condensation but I'm afraid because I'm new to all of this witch is why I've reached out to you guys here

 

[Markw84]

How old are the eggs? They are most fragile from after one week to about 4 weeks. You can make a new container with new substrate and move them very carefully. Be extremely gentle and do not turn or vibrate the eggs.

Make up the new substrate in the ratio I described. If it feels quite a bit drier than what they are in now, I would make the change, Since you do have the eggs buried about 75% - too wet would not be good.

 

[baby box turtle]

Can u message me directly? My number is (812)821-2177 it's just so much easier please my eggs are 16 days old and I went in there to look at the lids and there's not alot of condensation like there had been but I just got home from getting new containers in case I needed to move them

 

[baby box turtle]

It didn't have enough water to drop off when I tilted the lid like it had done before does that mean it's ok this is them now