Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i had a clutch of eggs today and one looks like a dud should i discard it or put it in with the rest of the eggs? second thing one egg rolled away and im not sure which way i found it? i put it the way i thought it was and put it with rest? i noticed a flat part on the egg so i would imagine that was the part it was laying flat on. any thoughts if i should expect that egg to not make it? thanks for any help!

If it's a smaller brown slug, discard it. Candle the eggs and check for veins. Ball python eggs are hardy, if the egg was viable and rolled around, it would not be a problem. Incubate the egg as normal. If you are unsure what a slug looks like, please google and research ball python slugs, etc. and you should be able to identify to make a decision whether or not you want to throw it away. If you can't candle your eggs, simply incubate, and unviable eggs will soon stink, change color, and rot. You would want to dispose of them as well. However, they will not hurt your eggs, so it's not a big deal. Again, ball python eggs are pretty hardy in my opinion. good luck

thanks for your post. so if the egg is not incubated in the same way i found it thats ok? thanks!

Your egg will be fine. Many years ago I did an experiment because some people wondered, and I wanted to know. I took a clutch of eggs, and flipped an egg 180 degrees (top to bottom) after 7 days of incubation. I did another egg after 14 days and another after 30 days. All three of the eggs hatched with no issues.

I don't recommend doing this, as there is no reason too, but it let me know that some egg movement, even if by mistake should not harm your egg or baby.
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Tim and Monica Bailey
Bailey & Bailey Reptiles

thanks so much for sharing that!