Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This pastel did not come out of its egg 2 days after the rest. I thought there might be a problem so I removed it. I found it had a twisted umbilical. It had not absorbed any of its yolk sac. It was very weak and could not support its own head. I untwisted the yolk sac and placed it in a small bowl with damp paper towel and placed it back in the incubator.

Before

Checking back several times the snake had begun absorbing it's yolk. By the next morning it had absorbed more than half and appears to be doing well.

After

Anyone ever have this experience? If so, I would like to know how it turned out.

Thanks
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Dino W.

I have had this happen before in the past, some eggs develop slower. I have just left the animal in the egg till its yolk was asorbed, they will come out when they are good and ready, I normally wouldnt recommend removing the snake from the egg but it looks fine in the "after" picture. Sometimes it has taken as long as 10 days, but they do fine after they absorb the yolk and emerge from the egg. I have only had 1 that has not lived but it was underdeveloped much more so then the one you pictured. Good luck with your new baby and keep us updated on how things work out.
Thanks Kim
N.A.R.C

Thanks for the input. The snake was dying in the egg. It's umbilical cord was twisted and closed off. After all the other snakes had emerged on there own I figured there was a problem. Cutting open the egg a little to view inside revieled that there was a definate problem. It is highly unlikely that all of the other snakes had absorbed there yolk and this one had not absorbed any. If I would have left this snake in the egg it would have died without a doubt. I would have prefered it coming out on its own also.
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Dino W.

Im sorry i understood that in the post, i agree that the animal had to be removed and i am glad that it is doing well, i was just stating that in our cases that we have had babies develop later then some other clutch mates and sometimes took up to 10 days after the others to emerge.
Thanks Kim

Looks like some smart thinking on the fly nice job and good luck with him/her keep us updated.
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Vince Pramuk

Thanks Vince, I will post some more photo's as the snake progresses. I would have hated to loose this snake.
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Dino W.

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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Wow, quick thinking and good thing too -- that's one pretty pastel! Glad things are looking up for it.
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~* Jen *~

Ya, I like the way she looks, different all together then her siblings. Would have been a bummer to loose the coolest looker.

Thanks
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Dino W.

By the way, shes beautiful...and I think you did an awesome job considering the situation.

I was wondering if a little Neosporin around the open belly where the umbilical cord goes in, applied with a q-tip might prevent any secondary infection.

Without the egg for protection from bacteria and all...??

Good luck w/her...him? Hopefully healthy and her right!

Yes , I have had it happen and if the cord is twisted several times and you don’t assist it it can’t absorb the yoke and will die , plus I have had them twist before they slit there egg and die with out ever piping . So I say you did the right thing . Thanks David of DS Reptile Rescue , Removal & Rehabilitation