Let sit for 5 minutes with the dish tilted so eggs are covered. After 5 minutes add about 50 mls of water, wait 20 minutes, then dump out the water and refill until eggs are covered. Development of Fertilized Eggs 1. When originally stripped the eggs are clumped together in a gelatinous bunch. After fertilization the egg is able to move around in the vitelline membrane.
Water causes the jelly coat to expand, separating the eggs from each other.
After 1 hour the jelly coat is fully expanded. At this point separate egg clumps into different petri dishes for better development. 25 eggs per dish, cover with water. First cleavage begins in 2-3 hours. Change the water every other day to keep free of bacteria and fungi.