Corded hatchlings - How to know the difference & what to do?

[xtian228]

Hello. Need help.

I had a VPI het lavender albino x VPI het lavender albino pairing produce 6 fertile eggs. At day 55 in the incubator there were 4 that pipped already so I cut the other 2. I had 2 lavender albinos and 4 possible hets. A couple of days after I checked again and found 1 had gone out of the egg and one possible het dead with its head sticking out of the egg - corded. Today I found 3 more out of the egg and one still in the egg so I checked. It was dead as well. I took it out of the egg and found that it was corded too!

How do you tell if a hatchling is in trouble and may be corded?

What do you do to help the hatchling get out of the mess?

Both lavender albino hatchlings made it. 2 corded bps in a clutch is horrendous especially if I could've helped them out. Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks in advance.

[PitOnTheProwl]

I haven't had any problems like this as of yet but I am very interested in seeing the responses.
BTW post a couple pictures of the clutch

[sho220]

http://www.reptileradio.net/ball-pyt...s-what-do.html
http://www.worldofballpythons.com/ar...us-what-to-do/
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ord-in-egg-911
http://thereptilereport.com/twisted-umbilicus/

[RichieBoo]

Sorry to here about the babies....

[xtian228]

http://www.reptileradio.net/ball-pyt...s-what-do.html
http://www.worldofballpythons.com/ar...us-what-to-do/
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ord-in-egg-911
http://thereptilereport.com/twisted-umbilicus/

Thanks a lot for the very informative links, sho220. Big help! As a follow up, if a good majority of the bps pip already and one or two do not, I take it I should open up the egg(s) enough to check for signs of trouble? It shouldn't hurt the bp and I'm thinking this should do more good than bad?

[xtian228]

I haven't had any problems like this as of yet but I am very interested in seeing the responses.
BTW post a couple pictures of the clutch

I'll post the pictures soon as they shed

[Capray]

Cutting little flaps in the eggs is fine, it may help you get a look at them and help the out before they strangle themselves.

Sorry for your loss, hope the rest are okay.

[sho220]

Thanks a lot for the very informative links, sho220. Big help! As a follow up, if a good majority of the bps pip already and one or two do not, I take it I should open up the egg(s) enough to check for signs of trouble? It shouldn't hurt the bp and I'm thinking this should do more good than bad?

Cutting eggs is generally fine once the first pips. Lots of breeders cut prior to the first pipping to avoid exactly what you experienced. The earlier you can catch a twisted/tangled/knotted umbilical cord the better. I take my chances, wait until the first pips, and then cut the rest. So far, so good.

I'm glad you found the links helpful. I've never had to deal with this particular problem before but I've read up a little about it. Good info to keep in the back of your mind in case it ever does happen...

[xtian228]

Cutting eggs is generally fine once the first pips. Lots of breeders cut prior to the first pipping to avoid exactly what you experienced. The earlier you can catch a twisted/tangled/knotted umbilical cord the better. I take my chances, wait until the first pips, and then cut the rest. So far, so good.

I'm glad you found the links helpful. I've never had to deal with this particular problem before but I've read up a little about it. Good info to keep in the back of your mind in case it ever does happen...

Thanks again! I know better now.

[sho220]

Thanks again! I know better now.