Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello Everyone...

I am just wondering if anyone has ever had the egg or baby ball inside the egg dry out from cutting the egg open instead of letting the baby do it... I cut some eggs open last without any problems but just in case they do dry out or start to dry out I would like to know how to handle it... Pour a little luke warm water into the egg? just dampen the vermiculite? Any and all help will be greatly appreciated...

Thanks alot,
Robert Remendowski

Robert, I do not think the baby will dry out if you cut the egg at the appropriate time. I always wait until I see the first slit in one of the eggs and then go ahead and slit the rest. If you cut the egg too early you may damage some blood vessels. Anyhow I do not think adding water is neccessary at this point of the incubation process. Usually they hatch within 24 to 48 hours of each other which I dont think is enough time to dry them out.

Hope this helps.

Hermin Soler

Thanks for the quick response Hermin...I cut 2 out of 6 eggs today because it is day 59 and still no pipping, so I was just wondering what to do if they dry out...???

Thanks alot,
Robert Remendowski

It shouldn't dry out.

Ok Thanks...The eggs are still in the vermiculite inside the egg container inside the incubator ...

Thanks alot,
Robert Remendowski

Jeff could you post a pic of your incubator inside and out?

thanks

walt
-----
1.4 Ball Python
1.0 50% Het Albino Ball Python
0.1 Columbian Red Tail Boa
1.0 Albino Burm

If your incubator is high humidity I think it would be ok. I don't usually cut my eggs but I know that many people do and often cut them quite early and it seems to be ok. Below is a link to a story about a python egg that "hatched" fine even though it was completely open the last 23 days of incubation. Excessive moisture early on caused it to split but then very high humidity was used to keep it from drying out.

I would worry about added water drowning the baby (doesn't seem likely though) or disrupting the sterile environment. I suppose if you absolutely had to in some very dry situation then heat distilled water to incubation temp and use an eye dropper so as not to get too much in.
Open Children's Python Incubation