Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We got some good advice when our female cornsnake (of 4 days) laid us a nice clutch, very unexpectedly, and I have the eggs incubating.
Is there any way of telling if these eggs are going to hatch? They look white,they're plump (apart from one which seemed to collapse and then plumped up again)and the in one or two which have little transparent 'windows' in them, you can clearly see blood vessels inside.
I guess I'm just paranoid, as we really don't know what we're doing or if we're doing it right.
Also, can someone tell me when the hatchlings (if we get any)will shed the first time, and when we offer the first meal etc etc.........? We want to be prepared, and we're supposed to be going on holiday on August 14th.......

Panic panic......

They were laid on June 8th by the way.............
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Vicks and Bubbs

0.0.2 baby corn (Smokescreen and Demon - small boys named these two)
0.1 albino corn snake (Doris)
1.0 grey rat snake (Derek)
0.1 brindle pooch (Stella)
1.2 moggies (Sid, Sadie and Puddy)
0.0.5 fish (Bob,Bob,Bob, Long-one and Bob)
2.0 homo sapien monsters (aged 7 and 8)

When they will hatch depends on how hot you have them incubating. A rough estimate is about 60 days when incubated at 85 degrees.

The eggs sound fertile. They aren't going to look/act like you describe if they are infertile.

I've just started breeding my snakes too, so I don't have any experience with babies, but I've read that they shed about a week after hatching and most people wait until the babies shed to try and feed them, but I've heard of other breeders trying to feed before the shed as well.

I'm sorry to have to say it, but you need to find someone that is willing to care for these eggs/snakes while you are gone, as they may not hatch before you leave (depending on temps) and even if they are hatched by then, they are going to need a lot of attention the first few weeks, IMO.

Also, one thing you probably haven't considered is that your snake may just lay a second clutch of eggs. In which case, these eggs are going to be laid around August 1st.
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alstiver@hotmail.com

1.0 2001 Coral snow cornsnake
0.1 2002 Pastel Ghost poss Het Amelanistic cornsnake
1.1 2002 Bloodred cornsnakes
0.1 1998 Het Hypo, Het Caramel cornsnake
1.0 2000 Hypo Het Caramel cornsnake
0.0.13 2004 Eggs (potentially normals, hypos, caramels, and ambers)

60 days is a good average, but this will vary depending on temp. and possibly other factors. Certainly you should be prepared by day 50 or so. They may hatch over a period of time (our started on the 28th, and the last one is pipping now). Ours started shedding about 5 days after they hatched, and I think this is about average. Generally you won't have much luck feeding them before they shed, but last year we had one or two that ate first. Since we had thawed a certain number of mice and gotten definite No's from their siblings, we figured we might as well try the younger ones. Getting the first mouse into some of them is tricky (they will figure it out within a mouse or two) especially since you will have a large number to deal with.
How long will you be gone on vacation, and do you have someone who can snake sit for that period?
Corinne
dragonfly@w-link.net

If your eggs are incubated at 84 degrees, they will possibly/probably be hatching on or around the 7th of August and if your female plans on double clutching, she should also lay right about then. (Mine laid exactly on the 60th day after laying her first clutch!).

Of course I'm not an expert! I haven't ever hatched cornsnake eggs! My three clutches are on day 63, day 61, and day 59.... the "oldest" clutch is pretty "ucky" looking.... I'm starting to worry... they started to dent in about 8 days ago, but haven't responded to an increase of the moisture in the substrate. Not sure if they're moments from hatching, dead in the egg, or just working on incubating and not quite ready to hatch! The other two "younger" clutches are looking very "firm" and unready to hatch.... if the look of the older clutch is the look of "ready to hatch"... I also have another clutch on day 59 of kingsnake eggs. DARN it they should PIP ALREADY! Patience isn't one of my strongest virtues.

After they hatch, I would keep them on moist paper towel. Depending on your source of pinkies, you might wait until they all shed, and then feed them all at the same time. (in separate containers of course)

As the others said, your eggs sound healthy and sound. Most important (as I've had to learn this year) is accepting that those that will hatch will hatch, and those that won't won't. Nothing much you can do other than give them the right environment and leave them alone! If you want to be sure they are viable, you can shine a little flashlight at an oblique angle on the shells.... experiment with angles, and until you see some veins.. once you get the hang of it it is easy!

There are always a lot of people here willing to listen and help, so take heart in that. I wouldn't worry about your vacation... if they haven't hatched by then, then evne if they start while you are away, they'll be fine while you are away. But they should hatch before. And she should double clutch (if she's going to) before you leave.

>>We got some good advice when our female cornsnake (of 4 days) laid us a nice clutch, very unexpectedly, and I have the eggs incubating.
>>Is there any way of telling if these eggs are going to hatch? They look white,they're plump (apart from one which seemed to collapse and then plumped up again)and the in one or two which have little transparent 'windows' in them, you can clearly see blood vessels inside.
>>I guess I'm just paranoid, as we really don't know what we're doing or if we're doing it right.
>>Also, can someone tell me when the hatchlings (if we get any)will shed the first time, and when we offer the first meal etc etc.........? We want to be prepared, and we're supposed to be going on holiday on August 14th.......
>>
>>Panic panic......
>>
>>They were laid on June 8th by the way.............
>>-----
>>Vicks and Bubbs
>>
>>
>>0.0.2 baby corn (Smokescreen and Demon - small boys named these two)
>>0.1 albino corn snake (Doris)
>>1.0 grey rat snake (Derek)
>>0.1 brindle pooch (Stella)
>>1.2 moggies (Sid, Sadie and Puddy)
>>0.0.5 fish (Bob,Bob,Bob, Long-one and Bob)
>>2.0 homo sapien monsters (aged 7 and 8)
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~Sasheena