I called a friend who is a successful Manouria breeder to ask about incubating them. He said they need very high humidity, but also enough oxygen. Years ago, when he got his first clutch he talked to a keeper at the Honolulu Zoo (he thinks) who had already successfully bred them. The trick is to keep them very humid. They got it super humid by closing off all the vent openings and keeping it very wet. Regular spraying and damp media helped. Most of the eggs were developing well and all was going great, then far into term, most of the well developed embryos died when almost fully formed. They figured that as the embryos got larger their oxygen needs increased, they must have suffocated due to the closed off vent holes. Here are his suggestions:
1. Use a shoe box with a few vent holes.
2. 1.5 : 1, by weight, water to vermiculite. I use 1 : 1 for my sulcatas.
3. Open up the boxes and spray as needed.
4. Spread out the eggs. Fewer eggs per container. More containers. This will help with their oxygen needs.
5. Bury the eggs a bit deeper in the media. About 3/4.
6. Incubate them at 84-86.
1. Use a shoe box with a few vent holes.
2. 1.5 : 1, by weight, water to vermiculite. I use 1 : 1 for my sulcatas.
3. Open up the boxes and spray as needed.
4. Spread out the eggs. Fewer eggs per container. More containers. This will help with their oxygen needs.
5. Bury the eggs a bit deeper in the media. About 3/4.
6. Incubate them at 84-86.