After 65 Days I Thought They Were Dead - Candled Opaque

I pulled my girl off her two eggs to see how they were doing 65 days after being laid. I candled them and didn't see any veins. I thought they must have died, and I wanted to get mom eating again, so I set up the incubator and moved the eggs in there. After cleaning up mom and her cage, I cut the eggs. I was surprised to see babies inside! So why would they candle opaque? Don't mature eggs candle the same way just laid eggs do?

I wouldn't have changed their situation if I thought they were still alive. I'm a little worried that the change will be bad for them, but I'm trying to keep the temperature about the same, and I'm glad to have better control over the humidity. I was having some trouble keeping the humidity up in mom's cage since the heater started kicking on. Anyway, opinions and advice appreciated.

I'm no breeder, but does this help? : http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...es-cutting-ect

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Originally Posted by pythonminion

I'm no breeder, but does this help? : http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...es-cutting-ect

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That's a great thread. Thanks!

not sure what the temps were with mom on the eggs, but you should be close for them to pip. getting the temps close in this stage of incubating the eggs should be fine. I open a very small hole in my egg tubs about 10 to 14 days out from the time they pip to allow more fresh air in which causes less humidity. not as important at this stage. just don't let the eggs dry out as you did cut the eggs. (don't want the egg sack to dry in the egg) so make sure you have distilled water in the incubator so it's the same temp as the eggs and you don't have a temp shock with different temp water. good luck and let us know how it turns out, don

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Originally Posted by don15681

not sure what the temps were with mom on the eggs, but you should be close for them to pip. getting the temps close in this stage of incubating the eggs should be fine. I open a very small hole in my egg tubs about 10 to 14 days out from the time they pip to allow more fresh air in which causes less humidity. not as important at this stage. just don't let the eggs dry out as you did cut the eggs. (don't want the egg sack to dry in the egg) so make sure you have distilled water in the incubator so it's the same temp as the eggs and you don't have a temp shock with different temp water. good luck and let us know how it turns out, don

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Thanks! It's good & humid in there. It seemed like the eggs had dried out some with their mother. Maybe that's why they candled opaque. Maybe, once the heater starts kicking on, I should end any maternal incubation and move to the incubator. I'm still worried that they may have tried to get out and were unable to because the egg shell was too dry. Is there a way to tell if they're still alive?

Touch them, and see if they move.

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Originally Posted by rafacacho

Touch them, and see if they move.

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Good idea! One moved when I touched it and the other didn't. I'm hoping the one that didn't was just being lazy. Well, at least I have one for sure.

How are they? Sometimes I gently squeeze from the bottom of the egg, this always makes them move.

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Originally Posted by rafacacho

How are they? Sometimes I gently squeeze from the bottom of the egg, this always makes them move.

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No changes yet. It's been 68 days now. Wish they'd hurry up! I'll try squeezing from the bottom next time I check them. Thanks. :)

Any updates? Im looking forward to see how this turns out. So many conflicting theories on maternal incubation....