Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We had a 20 egg cluch laid on May 1. On Monday (day 58) the first egg hatched. At this point (Wednesday, day 60) I have 5 hatchlings. When is it time to think about slitting the remaining eggs? The eggs that have hatched were those most buried in the vermiculite, and it's possible the others were slightly cooler. None of the eggs looked like duds, and they have all grown significantly since being laid. I don't want to fiddle needlessly, but I don't want to lose hatchlings either.
Corinne
dragonfly@w-link.net

Slitting now is unnecessary meddling. Do not slit until 90 days after laying.

Paul Hollander

I have had some eggs take as long as two weeks after the first ones hatched. I just don't slit an egg anymore. I did once and found a corn that was still days from hatching and trying to absorb it's yolk, it did not survive.
I will assist a snake that has slit it's own egg and has not yet made it out, sometimes they may be too weak to do so, But I will normally let nature take its course with the eggs.
Good Luck
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com