Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My first ever clutch is at 50 days today. Whats the earliest you can safely cut an egg? I dont want to cut the whole clutch just two eggs that started collapcing around 30 days. Just curious if the babys are still alive in those eggs. Thanks to all who respond.

I find it usually better not to cut if you can help it. Or wait till the first one starts to cut it's egg before trying. most of mine went around day 56 or so on average.

I wouldn't worry too much I had one that dented in more then clutches in the past and it just hatched 2 weeks ago and was just fine. I have yet to have to cut an egg they usually come out when they are ready. But maybe others will have some thoughts on this as well.
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Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

Well I ahd a friend and I am not saying any names cut an egg 30 days early because he had the date wrong on the box and they still lived. Not somthing you should be proud of but that has to be a record.
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BPs are B-E-A-UTIFUL!!!!!

you CAN cut eggs any time.....

they can die anytime

IF they aren't ok....there is nothing you can do about it anyways.......

.....I let them go till a few pip on their own....then cut the rest and pull them from incubator....

.....people cut at 52 days and up......

I still haven't figured out why?....

it takes all year to get one clutch.......what's 10 more days????

(last batch laid at day 65...hatches at 65 days this year too....)
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20% isn't bad
lots of snakes love them....and there are more things in the world than balls......
they breed like crazy ...........and............

I incubate my eggs at 89.6F and they usually pip on their own at day 52. I cut all my eggs at day 52 as this is when they generally pip on their own. For my own eggs (since I know they are most likely going to pip on day 52) some of the clutches I'll pip on day 50 (if I can't wait to see what is inside). I've cut eggs as early as day 47 without problems, however, I don't do this anymore.

Depending on your incubation temps you may go longer/shorter than day 52. I've never screwed up a baby from manually pipping an egg but I know some people have????? So, if you don't know when they are due to pip on their own I would wait to cut them.

Other people incubate at 90F and have their eggs hatch on 56-60 days........ Canada must have different air pressures or something as mine all pip on or around day 52 at those temps.

Corey

>>Other people incubate at 90F and have their eggs hatch on 56-60 days........

Yep.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

I agree, only 4 clutches here but all were out by day 53. I waited though for at least on to pip on its own and then pipped the rest. My one clutch was really sunken in, I was actually worried about them but they hatched fine and were actually some of my biggest babies.
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Nita Hamilton
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Ball Pythons
ballpythonworld.com

If the collapsed eggs are not molded then wait till they pip on their own.I incubate at 90 and most pip at 55 days .the lower the temp. the longer it takes.I have had eggs collapse almost in half and thought no way they are good all hatched and very healthy.
Good luck
mike

A paper presented to IHS several years ago addressed the dimpling of eggs (colubrids) but I believe it applies to all egg layers. The gentleman did several experiments and concluded that the more an egg dimmples before hatching, the larger the young were when they hatched. They actually consumed more of the egg yolk completely before hatching resulting in larger mass. I now allow my eggs (colubrids and pythons) to start going a little dry (less humidity)about 10 days before due to hatch. I have had no problems and have larger hatchlings that start feeding more easily after their first shed.

That is interesting. Do you have the paper?
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Sorry it took so long to get back to you, but I needed to look in my back proceedings to see if that paper had been printed. Unfortunately, it seems that the author did not submit his paper for printing into the proceedings of that years IHS meeting. I am sorry but it also has been to many years ago and I don't even remember who the presenter was. Very bad case of CRS (can't remember stuff)

If you are just curious as to whether the babies are still alive, why don't you just candle the eggs instead of cutting, which could be more risky?