Significant drop in incubator temperature. To worry or not to worry.

So it's my own darn fault for not double checking. Sigh. Long story short we're getting new tile flooring where they snakes live (the whole basement) so I had to move the incubator to the unfinished portion of the basement. The wife told me the outlet she plugged it into was constant power (as opposed to switch attachment) and well...it wasn't. When I checked this morning internal temps were around 79*F. Room temp is 74*F so I assume they had been slowly cooling across the night. I figured out the issue and got it up and running again. They were off power for about seven hours.

I have two clutches in there now. One clutch is at Day 51 so I'm not too concerned with their development. The other clutch, however, is at day 10.

I fully appreciate the fact that temps probably fluctuate in the wild and that evolution has made snakes hardy, but I was hoping for some quorum from other breeders who had experience temp drops during incubation and the resulting consequences.

Thanks in advance

There are other more important thing in life to worry about. Relax.;)

Paul,

They should be fine. No need to worry :) I would highly recommend NOT cutting the eggs though, in case they need the extra time to develop. Lower temps often mean longer incubation.

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Originally Posted by Rickys_Reptiles

Paul,

They should be fine. No need to worry :) I would highly recommend NOT cutting the eggs though, in case they need the extra time to develop. Lower temps often mean longer incubation.

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Yeah, I cut my first clutch ever, and decided that was it for me. These guys can come out when they want.

Thanks for the reassurance. I wasn't sweating it too hard, but it's good to hear. :)

In some of the literature it explains how drops in incubating temperatures are fine and actually as you pointed out natural. What it also says is as long as the drops are not sudden and sustained over extended periods that it's actually beneficial.:) And of course the temperature drops would have to be within a reasonable degree of change. The high 70's to mid 70's is acceptable , gradual change that is not acute and not prolonged.