Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One of the baby snakes sticks its whole head out of the egg, but upon close inspection, There seems to be a thick white slime in the eggs as well. The other eggs had somewhat runny transparent fluid in them.

The snake seems to be doing ok, but I wonder if I should help him out?? could he be stuck?? and could the slime harm him??
Or is it normal, and should he be left alone??

Thanks!

Just leave him alone. He'll come out on his own. He's already pipped, so he can get out. If there's something wrong, you're not going to help it by manually removing him from the egg anyway.
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We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have left him alone and he has come out about half way on his own, but he looks very thin. I think he has hatched prematurely. Is there any chance of survival, I think the white slime crap may be the yolksack, and he still needs to absorb some.

Is it possible for him to absorb the remaining food, and yolk when he is half way out of his egg??

Thanks for the help.

I doubt if he's premature. He's hatching right along with the rest of the clutch, right?

Just let him be and don't worry about it. There's not much you can do anyway at this point. He'll probably be fine. Once in a while you get a hatchling that is small and not as strong and vital as the others. Sometimes they make it and sometimes they don't. I've had a few that were very tough to get started, some I've even had to feed with a Pinkie Press for a while and then they started eating on their own and made it just fine. Some just never got started and didn't make it. If he doesn't make it, then there was something wrong with him and that's nature's way of keeping only the healthiest animals around. Some just aren't meant to make it. Survival of the fittest and all...
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We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thanks for your help. He has fully emerged on his own, but is quite a bit thinner than the others, and not as active. His umbillical is still attached somewhat, but I read that it will eventually fall off. I will try to nurse him to be a strong healthy snake.

I will just have to wait and see if he eats anything......I read that hatchlings usually won't eat until after their first shed, but I can't help but think that he maybe should eat for the strenght to shed. so after he rests up a bit(a day or so), i will try to offer him a small pinky.

Again, thanks for the advice!!