Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Catchy subject line, isn't it? Today is day 53 for my first ball clutch ever. I was expecting them to hatch in the next few days. But then I called a guy tonight that I was talking to about buying some adult females from. He told me that he often cuts his eggs open as early as 47 days with no ill effects. After some instruction, that was all the incentive I needed. I had put the clutch in the incubator as I had found it back on March 25th and left it that way, which I think contributed to one dying because it was sideways. Started out with 7, now down to 6 eggs.

The 3 on the top of the clutch were sunken and obviously close to hatching. They also pulled apart fairly easily. I didn't think to separate them until after I had already started cutting so I spilled a mentionable amount of fluid from 2 of the eggs when moving them. But I checked on them thoroughly before putting them back in the incubator and they seem fine. I only cut 3 of the 6 because the ones on the bottom are still puffy and full and don't seem ready yet and I don't want to take any totally unnecessary chances. Does anyone know why that might be that the ones on the bottom are in that condition?

The 3 I cut open are all normals. I bred a male 100% het albino to a female that was sold to me as a het but I'm really not counting on it. Anyway, sorry if this is kind of rambling, just trying to record my thoughts. This is my first clutch and I'm trying to learn as much as I can the first time around so as to avoid as many mistakes in the future as possible and I have big plans for next year, of course. So far, I had one die and dissescted it. Now I just cut half the clutch open on my own a few days early, only to have to worry my ass of for the next few days that they don't drown in the fluid. Never ends does it? But I have learned alot and I'm sure it will continue until this is done and it's so much fun, really can't complain too much. I just hope I don't screw any up by doing that. Anyone have any opinions or experiences relating to cutting eggs open early? Anyway, here are a couple pics.

The order the clutch was in for 53 days:

This is what the eggs look like now. The 3 cut open look good and healthy. Just a little worried about the fluid that spilled out and that they don't drown now before they come out. Either my camera or my photo taking skills suck way too bad to get close up pics of how they look in there but they'll be out soon (hopefully) and I'll definitely be posting more bad pics of them out in the real world.

Conratulations,and thanks for sharing too.

(Today is day 40 for my first clutch)
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Charles Glaspie

No,i don't have a speech impediment,my finger just slipped off the g key...

Congratulations
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Charles Glaspie

Hi Ryan,

As far as cutting eggs early goes, I made a mistake last year and miscounted weeks. Normally I cut on day 55, but I cut a week early (Day 48). At Ralph's suggestion I just placed a damp paper towel over each incision. All babies did fine but I certainly would not recommend cutting them that soon!

Christy

Ryan, They will be fine.. I cut this girl open last year at 47 days they all turned out nice and healthy!!

I did it with another clutch Sunday!!

All 5 babys are banded like there dad!

Those are very nice John.
Congratulations,(I read your other post as well).

I have one girl that has light eyes along with the reduced pattern that i hope will be of size this coming season.

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Charles Glaspie

Congratulations!
What is the story behind your banded male?

GOD Bless
Andre
ASFReptiles

Thanks Andre, He is a Het hypo (Bell) His first breeding season this year. The het female I bred to him should lay on Sunday. I hope to see some nice banded Hypos from this clutch.

Thanks again,
John

Nice pic of that albino!

Thanks Chris

Hang in there...you're almost there!
I've cut eggs at day 50 and haven't seen any ill effects.

To answer your question about the eggs on the bottom being
larger/full/etc. It is most likely because they are in more
direct contact with the moist substrate and they absorb more
water than the ones on the top. You can cut those ones also
without any problem.

Good luck!
Chris Simone
www.SimoneReptiles.com

Two of mine pipped during the night. (56 days) Opened the other 4 this morning. A good sign is when they start separating from the pack and become very pliable. Personally I would have waited 60 days before opening one.

Good luck,

Mike

I've checked on the ones I cut twice since I cut them open. 2 are obviously alright and moving alot. 1 though isn't moving at all and I've been sticking my finger in to see if I get a reaction. If I am getting one, it's so faint that I'm unsure if that's what it really is. It seems to push back at me when I touch it but again, so faint I'm not positive. Should it still be OK? And thanks to everyone on this whole forum whether they answered my own questions or someone else's. I couldn't have made it throught this first time this successfully without all the advice.

.

because I don't know how early you pipped them. Normally, they are out of the egg within a day of pipping (on their own). But I don't know at what stage you manually pipped them.

I can say this though. Don't let impatience get the best of you. Many, many years ago, I could not wait for a clutch of eggs to hatch. I ended up killing all of them by opening the eggs too soon.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Relax....and don't open the incubator again