Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In the post below about the beautiful little snow boa, there is discussion about how to handle the umbilical cord when it doesn't separate on its own.

I just had my first litter of baby boas born a week ago. 23 live babies, yeah! 5 did not separate from the yolk sack on their own. There was additional tissue like in the picture of the little snow boa when I pinched off the cord. Those 5 were very weak. Two were so weak I let them go to the freezer.

What I did was place them in their own boxes, on extra heat, and soaked them in their water dishes a hour or so a day. When I removed them from their water dishes I dabbed iodine on the umbilical area to disinfect it and help it dry out. One of the three in 'sick bay' was moved into 'general population' yesterday and is all healed up. They have all become normally active, but it took a few days for them to perk up.

Does this sound to you guys like I did the right thing?

Thanks for any comments and/or suggestions.

ShadyLady

From what I have seen when the cord is still very thick and attached to the yolk sack, and the veins in the sack are still red it seems the baby is still supporting the sack with its blood. This seems to really weaken the babys, I assume from lack of enough blood to support itself and the sac. What I have found succesful in this case is to leave the sac alone for about 6-12 hours to allow them a chance to absourb the sac, then cut the cord regardless. In my last litter this year I had a baby born that was abouut 1/4 the size of the other babys she had not even gotten her color in yet, I thought she was anery. I cut the cord and keep her moist, she started moving around after about 5 days and since she was so thin I offered her food at day 10 and she ate a f/t pinky. She got her colors about 2 weeks in. She still hasen't shed yet, and she is 2 months old. She is very small but doing great. I think the cord will kill them if you don't cut it in these cases. Hope this helps Vinnie