Anyone have valid ideas on which to test first...The tortoise or the egg??? I have 9 clutches of redfoot eggs in incubator at present 7 clutches doing fine from 3 females ( all guyanan) however, I have a dwarf cherryhead pair, female 9.25 inch and male 6.75 inch. First year breeding for both. Female laid first clutch above ground, 3 eggs, 1 broken. 2nd clutch, 5 eggs buried. Upon incubation and first candling after 2.5 weeks I found 1 egg clear and 2nd had a dark spot on side of egg (internal) at 2nd candling, 2nd egg smelled and was adled. Now 2nd clutch of 5 at 2.5 week candling 2 of eggs seem to have similar dark spot. Question is? Would you swab female for culture or egg or both to determine if there is an infection present. I have been hatching for 35 yrs but have never had an infection problem