Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I checked on the eggs this morning. The shrunken one didn't hatch but the bigger one has the tip of the baby's tail coming out of it!!! I thought the nose should have been the first part out??? I'm really worried, I've never seen or heard of a baby's tail coming out before the nose!!! I'm so worried its dead or dying. Has this happened to anyone else before??? I wanted this to be a successful hatch and so far its been a disaster.

Cleo
1:1 leos (7 eggs cooking)

I need to know if I should cut the baby out...
I am just praying that its snout is near its tail and it is just reasting before coming out.

Cleo
1:1 leos (7 eggs cooking)

I would NOT cut it... but it is all up to you, I lost my first every leo baby to cutting it open when it sank in.. and wouldnt want it to happen to someone else too

You are probably right , just resting, is the baby moving?
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-Matthew Email me...

I touched the egg, no reaction. I am just hoping that it isn't reacting out of fear or that it doesn't know what's touching it so it doesn't care.

Cleo
1:1 leos (7 eggs cooking)

I am not that experienced with egg hatching... really sorry.. hope we find more help ASAP!
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-Matthew Email me...

This may just be wishful thinking, but I checked on the egg again, and noticed that the slit in the egg was very very tiny (small even for a hatchling). So I gently used my nails to widen the slit ever so slightly (until I could see the very tip of her snout curled inside the egg). As I did, I noticed the tail curl and pull in a bit and I thought I saw the egg move slightly. Maybe she was too tired (or in a poor position) to slit the egg properly??? Maybe the wider slit (coupled with the better oxygen supply) will help stimulate her to hatch out soon under her own power?

Cleo
1:1 leos (6 eggs cooking, *one hatching?*)

I really hope its succesfull for you
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-Matthew Email me...

From what I have read about the breeding and hatching of Bearded Dragons, its not wise to help the baby out. Its normally a sign of illness if the baby can't get out on its own. That and sometimes helping the animal can result in illness, weakness, and even disease. If you absolutely have to help the animal, be prepared for it to give you a run for your money. It may live, it may not. From the book, written by a guy who keeps an enormous BD farm, his studies showed that most that were helped from their shells either died soon after, or contracted permanent illnesses that plagued them for the rest of their lives, resulting in shorter lifespan (though a 5 year life reduction isn't insanely that much).
I'm no expert on Leo breeding, but I would assume the same rules would apply. If the Leo gets out by itself, it should be relatively healthy, though being so young they are still susceptible to all sorts of problems.
I had planned to breed my beardies, but my first one died from Impaction, which I didn't catch, it was really sudden, and now the second one may have coccidia from possible cross contamination, which is my fault (I used to be really arrogant).
SO just keep an eye on them, if they get their heads out of the shell, they should be okay, but if they seem to just be struggling to get out and can't put up much of a fight against the shell, it is probably weak and likely to die.

Sorry about your loss.