Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I recently posted about my racers hatching, and what boggles my mind is why one of them died?? He slit his egg and pipped on shedule with all of the other babies, but when he pulled his head back in his egg, he never came out again. I decided to check on him this morning and indeed he did die, but I am not sure why. Inside the egg there is some remaining yolk that was not absorbed, but I am not sure what killed him.

Is it possible that he drowned in the clear egg fluid??

What could have caused this??

Yes they sometimes drown. Sorry for your loss. You can minimise the losses by opening the top of the egg once they slit. Here is an example.

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"Life without risk is to merely exist."

Thank you Sighthunter. His six brothers and sisters have all completely emerged and are doing fine.

I will watch closely with my Pitophious eggs(should be pipping within a week) and all eggs in the future to make sure it doesn't happen to any of them.