Reptile & Amphibian Forums

question!

OK, well how long do you wait until slitting an egg?

Here's my dilemma...out of 5 eggs, only three eggs were fertile, the first one started piping on Sunday (09-17) and was out of the egg by Tuesday morning (09-19).

The eggs were laid on July 4th, and incubated @ 79 - 82 degrees F. Today makes the 78th day...

When should I make a slit in the remaining two eggs...or do I just wait it out?

I've never had a healthy snake not slit its own egg, so should I just let nature take its course?

I need some helpful feed back before I do something stupid.

-RG

I would let them be for just the reason you stated....I've never had a healthy one not get out on it's own either. Every one I've ever slit has been dead-in-the-egg because of deformities.
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Paul Weaver
Carolina Herps

I've had all that can happen to me when it comes to this issue. Last year I chose not to slit an egg and inside is what appeared to be a normal, healthy tricolored hypo (no necropsy was done to see if any underlying problem existed). The snake was flipped upside down for some reason and not positioned to where it could slit the egg--almost thinking the bottom was the top. This year I had eggs go 72 hours after the first had hatched and I decided to slit the eggs. All ended up flipping rightside up and emerging and very healthy. Conversely, I've also had eggs within the same clutch behind in development for some reason although housed in the same incubation chamber under the same conditions. They were underdeveloped and died and slitting them did no real good. They could have possibly made it if I just left them incubate longer. Another wrench in the situation is I've slit eggs before and the snake will be alive, fully developed and start to emerge only to appear to drown within 24 hours. I personally have had better success with slitting the egg rather than not. Although I fully understand and without the experience would agree with Paul in that leaving them alone is the best policy. Sorry for possibly confusing the matter but I just wanted to present some experiences to help cope with whatever decision you make.

mgl

Thanks guys...I trust both of your opinions. I still don't know what I'm going to do...

I looked back on my hatching records and the longest span between the first hatching and the last was 5 days(Az kings)...with 2 days being far more common. This is only my second clutch of Hondurans...so I'm dying to see if my female is het. Anery...I'd love to produce a "healthy" ghost this year.

If I don't see some piping by Saturday...I may make a small cut on one egg.

I'll post again and let you all know what happens.

Thanks again for the advice gents,
RG