Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Sad news -- one of the eggs burst open and fluid was leaking out. It was too early for the eggs to be hatching and the shell had been torn for some time, so I opened the shell and extracted the embryo, which I thought was dead, but it was alive. It had scales and the milk snake pattern but the brain was exposed and the eyes were covered by scales.

Anyways, from this description of the embryo, can anyone tell me about how much longer the eggs have before hatching? They have been incubating for about 50 days. Temps in the chamber have been in the low 80s but this has been slightly higher recently due to hot weather. Sorry but I had gotten rid of the embryo before I thought to take a picture and am now kicking myself for it. It was moving -- I killed it myself, I couldn't stand just letting it die of dessication.

crocacutus

>>Sad news -- one of the eggs burst open and fluid was leaking out. It was too early for the eggs to be hatching and the shell had been torn for some time, so I opened the shell and extracted the embryo, which I thought was dead, but it was alive...
>>... It was moving -- I killed it myself, I couldn't stand just letting it die of dessication.

I've seen a few other recent posts here, too, of people cutting eggs with unfortunate results. I'm sure they, like this poster, felt as bad as the rest of us at the unnecessary deaths.

Is there anything constructive we all might do to suppress that urge? In my experience, other than the keeper's (including me) anxiety (will they hatch?) or anticipation (what morphs will hatch?) -- emotions that will be satisfied soon enough, if we just let nature take its time -- there's no need for these pre-emptive strikes.

So maybe a "nature trumps impatience" campaign, or something like that, repeated enough times here? We all want and need to be "good" breeders, so I'd think reminding us of one fundamental of good management couldn't hurt. Any better ideas?

I know we are not supposed to help snakes hatch, but this individual clearly was not hatching. There had been a tear in the shell for a few weeks but only recently did the egg membrane tear. I assumed that the snake would be dead, not hatching. Of course, you are right that I probably should have waited at least to make sure.

crocacutus

Eggs can be resilient to tearing and can seal themselves back up to a degree. However, in your case with the membrane obviously torn and the fluid leaking out, the snakelet would have probably died due to being premature. Still, as Terry stated, sometimes its better to just leave them alone and see what transpires naturally. As far as how much longer, based on it only be 50 days I would say you have at LEAST 10-15 days left, possibly longer if the incubation goes 70-75 days, which can easily happen. Be patient!!

Do the eggs do anything in the days before hatching? I've heard some reptile eggs change color or shrink or expand, do milk snake eggs do something like that?

crocacutus

As far as that exploding egg, are you sure you havent exposed your eggs to the extreme hi temps we have had?? The warmer the eggs the faster they hatch, I have had easterns hatch in 43 days and 66 days. There will be a clue, dimpling and windows can be seen on the eggs a day or 2 before they start to hatch. DO NOT cut into any more, snakes die in nature every day...many are doomed from the beginning and thats why they have more than 1 egg....

That fast? Wow ...

You're right the temps did spike in the incubation chamber. This embryo though clearly wasn't ready to hatch but I will not open up any more now.

crocacutus

10 to 15 days. At temperatures in the low 80s it should take a total of 60 days. I've noticed that when there are temperature flutuations (lower nighttime temperatures and daytime temperatures sometimes rising above the low 80s) it takes somewhat longer for eggs to hatch than when incubated at a consistent temperature of 82-84 degrees.

Tim

Thanks, every source I look at tells me something different, and of course none of the books talk about breeding ltt ...

Do you ever breed them? In my area it is illegal to sell them but does anyone sell them elsewhere? I am not looking to buy any (11 is enough, thanks) but am curious, since there is so little information on this subspecies.

crocacutus

Most often an egg that springs a fluid leak will form a film and reseal on its own, eventually hatching with the others. This won't serve you now, but in the future, just let nature heal. You also could have "patched" the egg.

A high humidity level can lead to the leak you describe. There exist other factors as well but they are beyond our control.

Walt

Wow, see this is exactly why I go on this forum, because no way would I have known any of that!

crocacutus