Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I slit the eggs today (day 52) on the clutch that was all dented and the shells were a bit hard due to bad humidity. The first 4 went without a hitch. The 5th egg, as I was cutting, I saw the egg fill with blood. I think I hit a vein by accident connected to the egg yolk. Oh my God! The ONLY morph in the clutch!!!!!

Steve,

I am sorry to hear about your trouble.

If you must cut...in my humble opinion...wait until day 55, if the eggs have not pipped and you decide to manually pip them.... CANDLE the eggs BEFORE you ever make an incision!
Mark the eggs (using a pencil) where there are NO veins.
This way you can make an incision where you are less likely to have problems.
Using safty sissors is also helpful. In a pinch, even cuticle sissors are preferable over trying to use a pair of standard sissors.
I have cut using a other tools...but I still prefer the tiny safety sissors. You can find them in quality dissection kits or through a medical supply outlet.
But most important...day 55 and candle first!
Again, sorry to hear about your catastrophe.

So what happened? Is it dead? More info and or pics please.

That is why I only do it after all the others have piped and come out of there eggs and I candle it as I am cutting as to avoid any vane’s . it should only be done as a last resort , in my opinion . Sorry to here of your loss , but we learn by our mistakes ! David

"I would rather be precisely wrong than approximately right"
Marion "Doc" Ford

The baby didn't die, did it? I've cut small veins before and there was no problem with the outcome. It's definitely not what you wanna do and it's extremely nerve racking, but I didn't think it was a life or death situation. That's a good idea about candling before cutting. I've always just cut a tiny slit and then maneuvered to pull the shell up from the egg fluid. That's not totally fool proof at all. Marking where there are no veins and cutting confidentally makes a lot more sense. 31 one more days till I get to give it a try.

I just hatched a Woma clutch and slit the eggs that didn't pip. I hit the veins on every egg and had a 100% hatch rate. Once they've pipped, or have clutchmates that pip, they don't need anything in that egg except for any yolk thats left.

Watch the video of Prehistoric Pets cutting eggs. I have cut over 10,000 eggs but never got it down as fast as he does it. He uses a razor blade and it looks like a chef cutting fruit. I think the video is on you tube.

Mike

LOL...and by the time he is finished his hands look like he just got done delivering a baby! Sorry Jay...I couldn't help myself! Kevin and I were actually watching this and we figured there were stunt eggs involved!
-----
Matt Lerer
Ghi Reptiles

I saw that video, and I'm thinking "is that safe?!?"

But he knows more about that than I do, so...I guess it is. Haha.
-----
"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

Were did you find it ? Can you post a link ? David

Truth is generally the best vindication against slander
Abraham Lincoln.

I think this is the video.........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mv7VJpR8lMQ

Link should be below also
Link

Tanks . David