How long til I should cut?

[John1982]

I'm on day 52 now on my first clutch and trying to cover all the bases. I was wondering at what day I should cut the eggs if they don't start pipping on their own? I'm hoping one at least does then I'll cut the rest but I'm sure there's a "you waited too long" day as far as assisting the babies. Also, I read that many leave their hatchings in the incubator until their first shed. Should I leave the temperature at 88 degrees or lower it a bit since it's my only clutch in there anyway?

Thanks,
John

[snakesRkewl]

You have options for the hatchlings, you can leave them in the inc till first shed, you can put them all in a tub together till their first shed and then separate or you can separate right away and give them their own lil damp tub to have their first shed in, your choice, no option is wrong.
I personally separate them into their own 6qt tubs with damp paper towels as they crawl out of the egg.

We have been cutting on day 55 unless one pips before that, that again is a personal choice, some don't cut at all and others do it on day 52 etc.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

I'd wait till day 60 before you even consider cutting, or till the first pip (which ever is first)

[seeya205]

I cut once the first pips! I would let them go until day 65 before cutting(if they never pip), you can cut as early as day 55. Some cut earlier than that but that is the earliest that I would even think of cutting! This is my opinion but it is really what your comfort zone is!

[John1982]

I'm most comfortable not cutting at all but probably don't want to wait till day 70+ before giving up on their pipping themselves. I candled them tonight, still strong veins and I can see decent sized shadows taking up about 1/4 of the eggs mostly on the lower sides - I presume these shadows are the babies. I can't seem to find any type of progression candling pictures to gauge how far along mine are developmentally though and since it's my first clutch I'm kinda winging it. Before they hatch will these shadows I'm seeing take up most of the egg, 1/2 the egg, ballpark guesses?

Thanks all,
John

[John1982]

Ignore my last question, just saw the candling response Quiet Tempest gave:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-Candling-Eggs

Very helpful!

[Quiet Tempest]

If it were me, they wouldn't be cut at all unless there were signs that something might be wrong. Yours sound like they're moving right along according to schedule and will likely pip on their own without any intervention. You've waited this long. What's another week? That's just me, though.