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to cut or not to cut? .....

Posted By:

Acheron_08

In Relation To:

Demona

OK guys gotta a question here. So I know normally people cut eggs when they pip but what if its over due? How do you know when to cut? .. I am on day 58 now and was just curious. I know most eggs go what 60-70 days right? So it that's the case the next week some time will be around the 70 day mark. Its times like this that I wish speedy was still here. :( anyways was just wondering what some of you guys do. Also I know generally right before eggs hatch the dimple in and hatch with In a couple of weeks. So is that always the case? Thanks: )


Points:	50
Topics:	General Health , Pipping
Tags:	Cutting, Eggs, Hatching, Incubation, Morelia, Spilota
Species:	Pythons > Morelia > Morelia spilota spilota
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Member Comment

7/30/2010 2:42:23 PM

Marine

Well I asked our friend "Sam" the same thing about my egg, he said no earlier than 55 days, but I don't know about your carpet eggs, I guess it depends on when they are due ;) Best of luck girlie!

Member Comment

7/30/2010 3:19:22 PM

tmth

I'm on day.... 73? with my carpet python clutch and every egg is cut- all 13 alive, they're just hanging out.. and actually, one baby is out and has been for a good 2 weeks. It came from a moldy egg and I thought wouldn't make it, but so far he has. I've had a bunch of problems with this clutch though including incubator issues, so my guess is they were cooler than supposed to be and are just taking a while.
I would wait until 60, and then cut- just candle em beforehand to see where the veins are and do it carefully. Mine didn't dimple this time around, too full of liquid. Another reason why I cut them, I didn't want them drowning in the egg. Generally, carpets go 50-60 but can go further. If your temps are on the lower end, then it'll take longer too.

Author Comment

7/30/2010 3:59:06 PM

Acheron_08

Thanks marine: ) @ Emily thanks my temps are at 87 degrees but my humidity is a little hard to keep up but been maintaining around 90% . Guess I will give it a few more days and then cut them. I am just worried about them drowning: (

Member Comment

7/30/2010 4:04:58 PM

FyreFocks

If you arent sure what to do, take the goofiest looking egg and cut it open. If the animal is alive, then let the egg be. If the animal is not, cut one more egg and go from there. Though im not sure if your day count is high enough to warrant worry.

Author Comment

7/30/2010 4:54:04 PM

Acheron_08

Hey nate I only have two eggs but I do have a goofy looking one. .I just went back and counted the days one the eggs and today is day 58 ... she laid June 3 rd so I count that as day 1 right?

Accepted Answer

7/30/2010 5:31:30 PM

Sonja K. Reptiles

Personally, I let mine pip on their own... I guess I feel nature knows best... I know it's hard, but if I were you, I don't think there's even any reason to be concerned at this point - I'd give them at least another 5-7 days. : )

Member Comment

7/30/2010 10:15:35 PM

Lashman

I'd say wait, yes it's hard but also feel nature is much better at this. I would give them another week then consider cutting. I don't count the day laid as they are not a day old until second day!

Member Comment

7/30/2010 10:53:02 PM

TremendousTricolors

I personally wait, I just had three clutches hatch at day 78,75 and 72. These are also colubred eggs and incubated at my snake room temps which stay steady around 78 - 82. No drowning babies, but hey I feel mother nature can take its course.

Member Comment

7/31/2010 2:06:02 AM

WrathRaptor

This year was the first year I manually pipped eggs. I'm never going to do it again unless I have a good reason, such as a naturally pipped egg that fails to emerge properly. I lost 3 Beauty Snakes this year from remaining inside the egg after they were manually pipped. But like others, I was anxious to see if my eggs were doing okay, especially since I had changed so many details concerning my incubation technique. But like I said, never manually pipping again.

Member Comment

7/31/2010 4:11:03 AM

shellboa

Cutting eggs is more of a personal preference kind of thing. It is risky both ways, wait to long and lose them or don't wait long enough and lose them. I usually wait until either day 58 for balls and 60 for colubrids. I have only had 2 carpet clutches and they pipped on their own so...I also have waited until at least half of them have pipped before "helping" the others, tough to do with only 2 eggs. I'd say go with your gut. If you go to pip and it feels right then do it but if your gut says...hmmm not feeling right then don't.

Member Comment

7/31/2010 10:11:27 AM

tmth

Emily???

Well.... anyways, to update this with my own experience, the clutch I mentioned at 73 days started to hatch yesterday, or even the night before- I just hadn't checked on them yet. They have been cut for 10 days now without any issues of being cut, and so far 4 are out fine. Hopefully when I go to my apt today I'll find more out. Like I said though, I had quite a few problems this year and I lost 10 eggs between 45-55 days to mold, and so I had started cutting those moldy eggs to see if they were even alive and I cut until I found a live snake.
Can you candle them and see any movement?

Member Comment

7/31/2010 1:24:33 PM

WrathRaptor

Yeah, if you have a decent ligth (I use an LED pen light) then you can see movement when you candle the eggs. It requires a bit of patience, in my experience, because they don't alway move right away.

Author Comment

7/31/2010 5:38:10 PM

Acheron_08

Have yet to candle then am afraid to actually worries about dorping it lol Sorry about the wrong tmth I don't know why I confused it. Maybe its due to the lack o sleep lol and that's awesome news on your little ones yeah I lost a couple of eggs to mold as well:( but I checked on them today one has some signs of dimpling: ) today is day 59 :)

Member Comment

8/2/2010 11:38:56 AM

exoticcritterss

im thinking i would wait a little longer, i had my first clutch of ball pythons this year, i ended up loosing all the eggs but 1, on day 55 a breeder friend of mine told me that i should cut the egg,,, so i did and the baby was not ready at all, he did not even have any color yet, i just knew that he was a goner, but luck was on him side and he hatched on day 84, great looking litte pastel, and eats great,,, good luck with your eggs, i hope you get 2 great babies :-)

Member Comment

8/2/2010 8:43:18 PM

WingedWolfPsion

I usually wait until the first one pips, and then cut the rest. I just have to see what they all are, lol.

Member Comment

1/25/2011 11:37:18 AM

abi21491

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