Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Then they are still alive right? Today is day 72. Still no action. I slit the egg tops on day 68, no action. I was trying NOT to candly them becuase I was afraid it would upset the hatchlings, but I have candled them a few times since I slit them on day 68, I see no movement whatsoever, but I can definatly see red veins?

This is a test isn't it? Someone up there knows patience is very difficult for me, and it was awful waiting the 60 days I THOUGHT it would take. Now on day 72 I'm just about convinced they are dead, but still holding out a little hope.

What do you think?

I'm sitting next to a table with the rubbermaid with my first clutch of kingsnake eggs. Luckily it didn't take that long for them to hatch, the first one pipped on Saturday. It's now been 72 hours since that time. On Monday I manually pipped one that seemed to have fully collapsed (and just before that I could see red veins in only two of the unpipped eggs)... Inside I saw a fully formed snake, and a big goober-y mass with veins. I touched the little snakey and noticed no response. But since three more eggs pipped within a few minutes of manually pipping the one egg I just resigned myself to the little hatchlings probable death and focused on the others. A couple of times I convinced myself that I had seen it move, but by last night the "goobery" mass seemed to be turning opaque and I was expecting that it was going into decay. This morning snakes 3 and 4 were out of the egg, the fifth one was still sitting with his head out of the egg... and so was the one I thought was dead!!! Just looking out of the hole I put in the egg and contemplating the universe. Only one egg hasn't pipped, but with five out, two alive and pipped, and only one left, I am hopeful for that ones' pipping too. It's nerve wracking. VERY nerve wracking. But hey, it's worth it in the end. Next year I get to try my hand at corn snakes.

I would make sure all is right, close up the incubator and take 24 hours away, or at least 12. It helps. Since I'm a high school teacher home for the summer, I have all day to stare at 65 day old eggs and wonder if I am going to see them pip, and if I'm going to be able to figure out gender, etc.

Good luck to you!
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~Sasheena

Wish List:
0.1 adult Whitewater Rosy Boa
1.0 CB Spilotes Pullatus
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python

:I would make sure all is right, close up the incubator and take 24 hours away, or at least 12. It helps.

Best advice yet. Make a quick check no oftener than morning and evening. Otherwise, leave the eggs alone.

: Since I'm a high school teacher home for the summer, I have all day to stare at 65 day old eggs and wonder if I am going to see them pip, and if I'm going to be able to figure out gender, etc.

The answer to each concern is yes. But sitting around stewing about it just turns people into compulsive overeaters or drunks, puts wrinkles in their faces, or makes their hair fall out. 8-)

Go for a walk in the park, visit a museum or art center, take in a movie, build a new snake cage, yank weeds out of the garden, mow lawn, paint the house, write a book, whatever. Just do SOMETHING constructive to take your mind off the eggs.

Paul Hollander

All the red veins mean is that they are or were at one time fertile. I slit my egg about a week ago and it just sealed itself back up. A few days later, since I have never had an egg take so long, I cut the hole a little bigger and touched the hatchling with a blunt toothpick. It moved so I left it alone and the next time I checked on it, it was upside down in it's egg! I was totally worried so I touched it again and it still moved. I decided to leave it alone as much as possible and last night when I was checking temps I saw bubbles, and this morning, a head poking out of the egg. I am so releaved to see it breathing, it can take it's time now that I am convinced it is OK. Don S. suggested my themometer could be faulty and my temps are lower than it says they are. Sound reasonable to me. Give 'em a few more days they will probably come out.