Cutting Question

[Icatsme]

So I've read many people cut their eggs on day 52 or so. Does that stimulate hatchlings to come out any faster. I understand they won't come out immediately.

Let's say, hypothetically, the clutch was destined to pip on day 58 with no cut. Let's also assume cutting wouldn't be necessary to prevent drowning in the egg. Would they come out a day or so early or are they going to park it until 58 irrespective of cutting?

From what I've read it doesn't make a difference. I have to ask though, I get hung up on the weirdest details.

Yes, wondering about these things keep me up at night. (I even dreamt about my snakes during my afternoon nap today, a nap caused by being kept up at night thinking about snake questions. )

[JASBALLS]

No, Cutting early doesnt make them come out any sooner. Some people do it thinking they may drown. I do it because I like too. And I want to see how far I can go by learning things most people are affraid to do. Trust me I'll stop if/when I harm any snakes. But, I have to keep doing what I do until that happens!!

[Royalherper]

That would be a hard question to answer, cause you wouldn't know if they were going to pip the day you cut them anyway. They will come out when they are ready and done soaking up the yolk. There really isn't a good reason to cut the eggs. It's only impatience that people do it before day 60. If it goes past day 60, I would cut them to see if they are living. I hope this helps. Don't worry, some people will chime in and disagree with what I wrote anyway.

[Corey Woods]

I've found that the opposite is true. Eggs cut early take a longer time for the baby to crawl out of the egg than if they were just left alone.

I believe this is due to the internal temperature being lowered when the lid is removed for a prolonged period of time, even inside a walk in incubator. Eggs that are getting ready to hatch create their own heat. Eggs over time can increase the internal temperature of their egg container which is lost when the lid is opened for cutting (and also concurrent checkups to see how the babies are doing).

I cut all my python clutches and then leave the babies to come out on their own. I cut at day 52 and most are out of their eggs on day 53-54. I've cut ball python eggs as early as day 47 (by accident) and that clutch came out on day 61. I've noticed that eggs cut in around day 50 hatch on day 57-58.

Corey

[Icatsme]

No, Cutting early doesnt make them come out any sooner.

Thanks! You certainly are a resource with some unique insight into the question.

That would be a hard question to answer, cause you wouldn't know if they were going to pip the day you cut them anyway.

Do you see why I can't sleep at night ruminating over this stuff?

[JenH]

Not a big deal. I just cut a bee X normal clutch today (day 56)cause I couldn't stand it any more!

I just cut a a one inch "V", I didn't make convertibles out of them. But looks like the odds went my way....

[SPJ]

Cut them and then see this for days after. They love to torment you.

[nevohraalnavnoj]

I guess I'm missing the whole "cutting" bandwagon. It seems like some people on this forum advocate cutting extremely early because they just can't bear the suspense of what's coming out. There are a lot of suspenseful elements to owning a snake and hatching babies, but that doesn't mean they're all bad.

It seems like the risk at exposing the hatchling to the external environment too soon as well as nicking a vein in the egg far outweigh the marginal enjoyment of knowing 10 days sooner what's in there.

As soon as they pip, I'll cut. Or if they go past day 60.

I'm admittedly a newbie at hatching ball python eggs, so maybe I'm just missing something here.

JonV