Reptile & Amphibian Forums

there is dimpling in one of the 6 eggs...the rest aren't has firm as they were...there is movement inside and you can see their patterning real well when candled...I don't want to cut the eggs...I'm not sure exactly what temp they have been incubating at...we have 7 diferent thermometers in the incubator and they all read different...anywhere from 84 to 88 degrees...if the temps are truly on the lower side they may just go the full 65 days or longer...but I don't want them to die in the egg either...What is the longest incubation times you guys have seen?...and when do you think cutting the eggs would be a must?

Have patience. You may not even need to cut the eggs. At day 62 I generally do cut. However, if you feel uncomfortable with this you can wait until day 65 if you'd like.

Generally, you can wait to cut until 24-36 hours after the first egg has pipped. You won't have to make a big incision either.

Simply get yourself either a straight-edge razor blade or a scissors from a manicure set. Get someone else to hold your egg candling light next to the egg so you can see both the snake inside as well as the veins. Now simply make a either a straight slit or a half moon slit and open it slightly.

That's it.

These steps may seem like over-kill in the caution department to most people, but if you are uneasy about the prospect of cutting the eggs this is the best technique for you to get acquainted with the practice.

First, go back and recount your days! And if they were at 84 degrees or near, 62 days and beyond would be fine! I'd say monitor them and at 65 days make a "V" cut to observe!