Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys getting so close, just want to thank everone again for all your support before I bug you AGAIN about my eggs.

Today is day # 51 at 89 degrees. The top 2 eggs of the clutch have started to collapse. The egg nearest the top if extremly dented in, I would say atleast 50%, the egg next to it maybe around 10%.

The remaining 4-eggs have not collapsed at ALL. I had planned to cut small little flaps in the eggs near the end of day # 52.

But now I am debating. I think I wouldnt worry as much about cutting the collapsed eggs, but the ones that still look so full and big and fat are worrying me.

I mean what if they burst and all the liquid comes out?

Is it possible that the top 2 eggs could be ready before the rest? The one egg looks like all the fluid is gone, and I am starting to wonder if maybe that should be the only egg cut open.

I recomend slitting all the eggs on day 55 or 56.
It usually takes 55 to 65 days for them to hatch.
Just relax and breathe. All eggs dont hatch at once, worse case scenario is they hatch within a week of each other. It happens, and is no big deal. I would simply cut the eggs on day 55-56
52 is a bit early, but shouldnt cause any problems. I do think though yo have less chance of the babeis trying to elave the eggs to early as it does happen. that is why i say day 55-56
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"Quality isn't Quality without customer service so I guess I sell quality"

I was looking at this picture, drooling a little as well

Do those look like man-made slits? There nice and small, and I was going to make slits only that big. Just so I know AIR can get into the egg.

I wonder what day those little cuts were made.

Many different people have given you their opinion on waiting until they pip themselves or waiting until day 55 or so to slit the eggs. You are way too anxious, and this is why you are dying to cut the eggs on day 52. RELAX... Cut them if you want, but you are better off waiting a little longer. Some eggs take longer than 55 to hatch, so you may be cutting them too early at day 52.

My most recent clutch of eggs pipped on Day 51 and were out on Day 52. They collapsed around Day 34. You can cut an egg on Day 51 without any problems, they'll just stay in the egg and absorb the albumen. Not too big a window so as not to allow for seepage.

Hi Damon,

Yes, those are man made slits !! LOL !! I usually slit eggs after day 51 if I dont see any collapsing. I know some will cut out a huge hole in the egg. I dont prefer to do that. I usually make a small slit about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in length. I then place a slightly damp papertowel over the slit. I havent lost a single baby doing this. I highly recommend someone who is used to cutting eggs show a newbie how to do it safely. Thanks for nice comments on the Albino's Damon ! Just wait when I post pics after they shed out !

Joe Dembinski

Dembinski Reptile's, LLC

yes those are man made, i usually cut them only about an inch, the rest is up to them.
I know that its anxious waiting but it is part of the game.
Thats the whole fun in it, stop worrying so much and let nature takes its course.
Also just so you know as I see it ocming,
once they hatch, even if they come out with yolk hanging out they will be fine, just keep them warm and on moist paper towels.
theyll suck it in in a day or two, maybe an extra day.
then they will go into shed,once they shed set them up like normal baby balls and leave them alone.
put a hide box. It may take them from 1 day to three weeks to be interested in food.
i suggest ten days after they shed to put a fuzzy mouse in there.
they should eat it no problems.
dont get to worried if they dont eat right away, they know when they are hungry, we look at them and think that they should eat when we want them to, when in reality it is up to them.
wait till day 55-56 to cut the eggs, een then dont be worried about blood and goooo, there will be lots of it....
just be very careful when cutting th eeggs as you have never done it before, i pinch the top to make sure no snake parts are cut and snip the "pinch". then i open it with the scissors themselves and to make sure nothing is in the way and finish cutting the one inch i usually do, some do more, some do less, more than an inch is to much in my opinion.
but it works.
i would rather keep it an inch or smaller....that way they dont come out prematurly and we dont have to hear you asking about the yolk hangin out, remember ralphs lucy wanted to come out so he made a net to keep it in till the yolk was fully abosrbed.
i think im just confusing you, so i am gonna stop now.
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"Quality isn't Quality without customer service so I guess I sell quality"

Hi Damon,

I've posted numerous responses to you and I don't think you've really listened to any of them but...for the sake of the other users on this forum...

Don't cut your eggs at day 52. It won't hurt them if you do, however. Yes, liquid and probably blood will gush out, but the snakes will be fine.

Wait till they pip or wait till day 56 or so. The reason I don't want you to cut them is because the snakes are not ready and will barely look alive. You'll see a little blood and some liquid and swear you have done them in. You'll be sure you killed them when you cut a bloodvessel (which you will if you cut them at day 52), and then you'll have to wait 7-10 days worrying and wishing you had not cut them.

Most of all, you'll be posting on here every other day about how worried you are and you should not have cut them. "Why, oh why, didn't I just leave them alone?"

Please, don't cut them till at least day 55 for our sakes .

Christy

Hopeless! LOL!

MJ
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www.ballpython.ca

("Please God, don't let Damon cut them yet...."

Thanks for the laugh Christy.

Mark

>>Hi Damon,
>>
>>I've posted numerous responses to you and I don't think you've really listened to any of them but...for the sake of the other users on this forum...
>>
>>Don't cut your eggs at day 52. It won't hurt them if you do, however. Yes, liquid and probably blood will gush out, but the snakes will be fine.
>>
>>Wait till they pip or wait till day 56 or so. The reason I don't want you to cut them is because the snakes are not ready and will barely look alive. You'll see a little blood and some liquid and swear you have done them in. You'll be sure you killed them when you cut a bloodvessel (which you will if you cut them at day 52), and then you'll have to wait 7-10 days worrying and wishing you had not cut them.
>>
>>Most of all, you'll be posting on here every other day about how worried you are and you should not have cut them. "Why, oh why, didn't I just leave them alone?"
>>
>>Please, don't cut them till at least day 55 for our sakes .
>>
>>Christy

Gee wiz Damon leave the things alone already will ya. If you've never cut eggs before let them pip then you can help them open the eggs. I can see what Christy says happening and all histeria breaking loose. Man I hope he dun cut them little things open.

Your not going to be like this when the hatchlings arrive too, right? I think all the lurkers here on KS are sharing and experiencing in your first clutch experience though. Thanks for sharing it with us. Now I know I don't have to worry next year when I have my first clutch because I I'll have already sorta been through it vicariously through you. (I think that made sense. It did to me anyhow.)=P Keep waiting.
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Violette Garcia
www.shakahnsgrove.com (Coming Soon!)
Yes I know it's in webmaster's 'shop'.

Damon has not listened to ANYONE for 3-4 years about ANYTHING.......so what was it exactly that possessed you to believe he would listen NOW???..........hmm

Anyone want to make a little bet he cuts 'em anyways......

I'm sorry if I have started to aggravate everone who have been giving me advice. I just want this to work so bad.

I mean I really need these babies, hatching these babies will finally give reason to continue working hard with all of my ball pythons (4.45) to be exact.

I dedicate so much time to my snakes and give each one the absolute BEST care. To be honest the snakes are really my whole life. Hate to admit it on a public forum, but hey it's true.

I just love these animals so much, I just have this sick addiction to them.

I read all of your replies every single one, yours to Christy, I don't always reply to everone because I know your probably a little ticked off with me already.

I won't nag anymore about the eggs. After reading all of the replies I cannot decide what to do at this point.

Perhaps I will wait another 2-3 days, as always that you ALL for your advice. Without your support I would have given up on the day for eggs a while ago.

PS. Christy your so right if I cut the eggs and blood starts spurting out I would jump back on the forums having a heart-attack!

I'm sure by then everone would be ready to ring my neck

I'm not trying to put you down, but these sentences in your post contradict each other? Maybe its your constant excitement or maybe you didn't mean to word it that way, but I couldn't make any sense of it:

First you said:

I mean I really need these babies, hatching these babies will finally give reason to continue working hard with all of my ball pythons (4.45) to be exact.

But then you said:

I dedicate so much time to my snakes and give each one the absolute BEST care. To be honest the snakes are really my whole life. Hate to admit it on a public forum, but hey it's true.

I just love these animals so much, I just have this sick addiction to them

If you need a few eggs to hatch to continue working with them, really, how addicted can you be??

Hi Damon,

Most of us know the feeling of really wanting to be sure our ball is not starving, eggs are fine, etc. We sympathize with you, and it's my sincere hope that you DO get some beautiful and healthy albinos. Relax until day 55 or day 56....only a few days to go you can do it!!!

Christy