Hey Luke, you're welcome for the info, anytime. Sorry I didn't see your post earlier, I've been pretty busy lately, so my attendance on here has been spotty.
About not being able to see the shark - keep in mind that when the egg is relatively new, the leathery casing is still pretty dense, and therefore it can be deceiving when candeling (shining the light on it from behind). Additionally, there isn't much of a shark as you'd recognize it, until development is in the later stages. Even though in proper conditions, growth is pretty steady and rapid during the middle portion of embryonic development, if you've got yourself a "fresh" egg (laid right before you purchased it), there won't be much to see for several weeks.
I'd suggest two things -
First, contact the store you purchased the egg from and ask them if they know how old the egg is. If they don't, ask them for their suppliers number (they may not give it to you, but reassure them it's because you are trying to determine the gestational age and nothing more). Hopefully they'll be cooperative.
Second, get some pictures and post them up so I can take a look. Take some normal ones clear and close up, and then try candeling the egg, as I described in previous posts in this thread and snap off some pix and post those too, so I can take a look.
Best case scenario, you've got a very new egg. Worst case scenario, you've got a "dud" which in other words, is an unfertilized egg. If that's the case, you'll know shortly, and I'd recommend taking it back to the seller and getting a new one. It's no one fault there, just how it goes sometimes.
Of course then there is always the slight chance that the egg was fertilized but that something went wrong and the embryo has died, thus halting any further development. However in that case, you'd notice rapid deterioration of the casing and a milking effect of the interior. I doubt that would be the case if it is in fact a new egg.
I know it's been over a week since you posted this, so I don't know what's taken place since then, but fill me in, and if you still have the egg, snap off some shots and I'd be happy to assist.
About not being able to see the shark - keep in mind that when the egg is relatively new, the leathery casing is still pretty dense, and therefore it can be deceiving when candeling (shining the light on it from behind). Additionally, there isn't much of a shark as you'd recognize it, until development is in the later stages. Even though in proper conditions, growth is pretty steady and rapid during the middle portion of embryonic development, if you've got yourself a "fresh" egg (laid right before you purchased it), there won't be much to see for several weeks.
I'd suggest two things -
First, contact the store you purchased the egg from and ask them if they know how old the egg is. If they don't, ask them for their suppliers number (they may not give it to you, but reassure them it's because you are trying to determine the gestational age and nothing more). Hopefully they'll be cooperative.
Second, get some pictures and post them up so I can take a look. Take some normal ones clear and close up, and then try candeling the egg, as I described in previous posts in this thread and snap off some pix and post those too, so I can take a look.
Best case scenario, you've got a very new egg. Worst case scenario, you've got a "dud" which in other words, is an unfertilized egg. If that's the case, you'll know shortly, and I'd recommend taking it back to the seller and getting a new one. It's no one fault there, just how it goes sometimes.
Of course then there is always the slight chance that the egg was fertilized but that something went wrong and the embryo has died, thus halting any further development. However in that case, you'd notice rapid deterioration of the casing and a milking effect of the interior. I doubt that would be the case if it is in fact a new egg.
I know it's been over a week since you posted this, so I don't know what's taken place since then, but fill me in, and if you still have the egg, snap off some shots and I'd be happy to assist.
