Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have my first clutch of blue beauties hatching. One hatchling has a long umbilical cord?/intestine? attached to its ventral surface, bellybutton?

It is about 3-4 inches long. the snake seems to be distressed.

Is there anything I can/should do?

spliskin

This happens from time to time in egg-laying species. For some reason they hatch prematurely prior to complete development. One of the theories I have read and believe to be true is that the underdeveloped snakes hatch due to the hormone trigger released when other snakes in the clutch begin hatching. As for what to do, there isn't much you can do. I'd recommend keeping the baby on a little more humid substrate than normal to prevent it drying out too soon. It may develop on its own and the snake may live, but I wouldn't count on it. Good luck.

Bryan
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"America was designed to answer to no one but ourselves, but somewhere along the line we stopped asking questions."
-Bryan Cole

I had this happen to me with a baby corn this summer. It was one of the middle ones to hatch in a clutch of 18 eggs, all of which hatched, and started to do so on day 60 - so not prematurely. With corns anyway, mostly these hatchlings do fine. I put mine on damp paper towel and the cord shrivelled up and disappeared within 24 hours. The hatchling was a little small and thin, and I was worried it hadn't absorbed all its yolk, so I fed it a pinky but it regurged the next day. I was then very worried, but it's now getting on for two months old and doing fine. It's still smaller than the others from the clutch, but has so far kept down three half pinkies, one whole pinky and has just had a second whole pinky tonight. I think it will be ok now.

I hope yours will be too. Put it on damp paper towel for substrate and keep a close eye on it. Good luck.

Jessica