Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have my first clutch of Albino Neslons at day 68. They are fine- nice white, firm, show veins, and red hue when candled and have 'grown' normally since being laid. The question I have is, is there any harm in slitting the eggs at about day 72? Many of the posted pictures of hatchlings just coming out of their eggs show slits put in by the breeder prior to the snake emmerging. Are Milksnake hatchlings more prone to having problems slicing through the egg shell?

I have had 100% success with Corn snakes hatching normally but the Milk Snake egg covering feels noticably thicker and tougher than a Crn Snake egg. Is that why many breeders slit their eggs?? I realize their is no right or wrong answer, so your experience and reasoning would be helpful too!!

Thank you for replies...
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2.3 Albino Nelsoni Milksnakes
0.1 Snow Corn
0.2 Sunglow Corns
1.1 Albino Motley Corns
3.3 '04 Albino Corn hatchlings
1.0 '02 Albino Stripe Corn
0.0.12 Sunglow/Moltey eggs simmering
0.0.20 Snow/Amel-Het Anry eggs simmering
0.0.5 Sunglow/Amel-Het Anery eggs simmering
0.0.13 Motley/Stripe eggs simmering
Bunch.Bunch Bearded Dragons
Bunch.Bunch Crested Geckos
0.1 Great wife
2.0 Great boys
0.0.2 dogs (they're great too!!)
and Corey's Yellow Knee Tarantula "Fang"

Wait till the first hatchling is pipping and then you can slice the eggs, the neonates all hatch within 36 hours of each other.

Your incubation temp will dictate how long before they hatch, 70 days is not unheard of, you don't want babies full of yolk hatching, the yolk needs to be absorbed prior to emerging.

Wait until you see a head poking before cutting the others.

Good luck

Why cut good eggs? They don't need help, and you risk hurting the snake inside.

If you do have an egg that doesn't hatch after all the others are out already, wait a few days then slit. But only in that circumstance.

i was in your same position. i had concerns about my sinaloans not hatching on time. they hatched on day 73.

I've had some Central American milks go 73 days, and I've heard of others even going to 82 days. As long as they're white and not molding, you should be OK. The biggest thing is patience

Scott Ballard