Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had snakes hatch out with about an inch and a half of umbilical cord still attached, but that usually falls off after a few hours of crawling around. This one came out of the egg with a small nub of umbilical cord rather than the longer string that I usually see:

This is still attached. I'm wondering what I should do with it. I guess my choices are leave it alone, cut it off, or pull it out. I figure it will probably dry up and fall off on its own.

Here's one of the snakes from the clutch:

I've seen it in the field on a Mexican milk but not in the hatching room, neat! That second king is a knockout!
-----
Todd Hughes

Thanks! I'll post pictures of the whole clutch once they hatch out.

"This is still attached. I'm wondering what I should do with it. I guess my choices are leave it alone, cut it off, or pull it out. I figure it will probably dry up and fall off on its own."

I have seen it several times over the years.Last time with some albino sulphur brooks I produced

PULLING IT OUT IS NOT AN OPTION!!!!
You may pull out the intestines.

Leaving it alone is right, you may want to paint it with gentian violet to protect from some infections. Also, you may want to dab it lightly with liquid vaseline so it wont get stuck to larger objects and endanger the baby, good luck!

David

Yes! I recieved a gopher snake with this. It eventually came off but stayed on through at least one shed while in my care. I was VERY careful and kept it on clean paper towels that were changed almost daily to avoid infection.

Here is the animal in question as a sub adult.

-----
“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emmerson

I've seen something similar on a couple hatchlings over the years. I just kept them slightly more moist than I normally would have, left them alone and it came off soon after.
-----
Randy Whittington

I have seen worse. Just leave it alone and put some neosporin on it.

The ones that don't make it have a larger body cavity open with more sticking out. I think yours will be fine.
-----
www.Bluerosy.com

second pic looks like it should come off
but the first pic looks like some I've seen in balls that I actually pushed back into the snake, and squeezed the hole shut...hold for a minute, and it should stay in....

not saying put it in or out...

put it in a damp deli cup with nothing in it...nothing to catch on it at all....it will slide around the wet cup.....and keep it warm, like 84....I put the balls in wet cup and back into incubator...(they are at 90 )....warmer helps them heal and the intestines to figure out where they should be....

...........do not cut it .....if it dies you will see it turn color and it will rub off....scuttle flies will try and get to dead tissue.....I had a pastel ghost female ball with one I put back in, the hole stayed open too much, I put it in a box and not a cup, flies layed eggs in it, they hatched and were eating in her belly button per say......I cleaned it all off and after the shed she was fine, and ate right away, and now weighs like 900 grams or so......this is why I say a damp empty cup....warm....

....

good luck....
-----
JY
Scales-N-Tails
reptiles ltd.