Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone know of a website that I can find information on the development stages of a ball python egg once it is laid? Thanks

http://www.kingsnake.com/ballpython_ca try this one

Recently I had a University contact me wanting to buy ball python eggs. They were planning on doing a study of the development of the hatchlings and in particular the development of their heads. As you can expect...I declined.

It would be a very interesting study but I would never be able to bring myself to kill the babies. I wish there was a way to test tube an egg, so to speak, and watch it grow without causing death.

If you do find something, let me know.

Mark
-----
www.ballpython.ca

By far my fav class in high school. One of the best parts about working with Morphs.. aside from their beauty.

We spent a few weeks studying chicken eggs and embryos and in order for us to attempt to get a first hand look at what takes place during development we attempted to make "viewing windows".

We first had to build wax "boxes" over a small section of the egg... at the bottom of the box.. where the shell was exposed we cut it out with exacto knives and then sealed the top with clear slides. Most of the eggs didn't make it past a few days.. mine I think only stuck around for the first week. However, a few did make it quite a ways.. none made it all the way for us, but it was still incredibly cool to watch. I have to believe that it could be attempted with a python egg?! Sure would be a great experiment.. makes me wish I still had at least one pair of bp's around.

Anyone want to loan me an egg or two?! I've got a new experiment I want to try.

Thanks,

Guy Scavone II
Living Art Herpetology

All the money that changes hands for these snakes. I can't beleive that we don't have more info on the different stages of embryo development. I guess that just goes to show we have more to learn about these snake other than what do I cross with this to get that. Thanks,
Casey

Check out this open python incubation.
Childrens Python Open Incubation

.

Mark,

I remember in college doing an embryology study of chicken eggs where we opened a live egg from each day of development. It was not so bad when they were only a few days old but got pretty sad as they neared hatch age - poor little babies were formed and peeping even though they still had not absorbed their yolk. I have also thought it would be interesting to see the equivilent with BP's - but no way I could stomach doing it.

Christy