Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This morning I had 15 baby racers hatch and one of them had slit the egg but wouldn't come out even a while after the others. I carefully peeled open the shell to help it and it came out fine but there's something wrong with it... it seems that it has some type of organ or something attached and threading into the slit where the yolk is normally attached to the snake (I think). The thing hanging out is a long whitish tube (some parts are red) and at the end is a bulbous spherical type piece of flesh. It seemed to retract into the snake a little but there is still quite a bit hanging out. I couldn't find anything similar in any of the other eggs so I don't think it's supposed to just fall off or something. Could it be the end of the digestive tract that somehow formed outside of the snake? I'm worried about it and am keeping it in a separate cage lined with wet paper towels so that whatever it is doesn't dry out. I'd appreciate it if anybody has any answers or advice.
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1.0 sumatran short tailed python
0.1 ball python
0.1 rosy boa
0.1 corn snake
1.0 mexican king snake
1.1 buttermilk racers
0.0.2 texas rat snakes
0.0.1 broadbanded watersnakes
0.0.2 yellow bellied watersnake
0.0.1 diamond back watersnake
0.0.1 blotched watersnake
0.0.1 ribbon snake
0.1 Texas brown snake
0.0.1 western cottonmouth
0.0.1 southern copperhead
0.0.1 rattlesnake
1.0 bearded dragon
1.0 leopard gecko

It sounds like they umbilicus or attachment to the yolk. It should be shed shortly. You are doing well to keep everything moist until this happens.

Without examining it personally, or at least seeing pictures I can't say for sure if it is something else, so if it doesn't shed after a day or so, a vet visit might be in order. You could also invite a locale, experienced breeder over to check it out and offer an opinion as well.

Take care,
Ian