When to cut?

you can use a simple but safe method:
you could cut starting at day 55 but using a flashlight you can see if the blood vessels are still big or if they become to decrease in thickness. that means that the baby is going to hatch in a couple of days. in that way you can also avoid big veins to be cut, that is never a nice thing.

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Originally Posted by aziejames

this question might be stupid for ball python vets, but i would just like to know why is there a need to cut eggs?tnx.

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It isn't required. Most people simply do after the first baby cuts it's egg to ensure all of the others are OK.

It is uncommon but not unheard of for a baby to loose it's egg tooth before being able to pip it's egg. If this happens, the baby can die in the egg. Cutting a small slit also allows you to see if any babies have the umbilical cord wrapped around their body.

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Originally Posted by aziejames

this question might be stupid for ball python vets, but i would just like to know why is there a need to cut eggs?tnx.

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Nope not a stupid question at all.Well the majority of us cut our eggs because it gives the babies a better chance at surviving.I lost one baby when i first started breeding them because it was unable to fully cut the egg.So now i cut around day 45.It can be done safely if you know what your doing with zero negative results.

45 days?

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Originally Posted by Quality_Snakes

45 days?

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Yes 45 days :gj:.I watch them grow and pretty much know what i have before they come out.I know someone that cuts at day 30.Once again if you know what your doing things will be fine but i would not suggest it for newbies.

While I wouldn't personally cut that early, I believe Joe has enough know-how to make it work. We have also seen the negative side of cutting early if you do not know exactly how to care for the eggs afterwards. It takes a little more vigilance but some people don't mind.

but... what's the point in doing that? just being impatient to see what's inside the shell I guess...
no benefits for the hatchling tho, only risks.

To each their own. As long as the person doing the cutting is capable of caring for the eggs properly after cutting I see no problem in cutting them that early. Personally, I would not cut that early, but then again, I do not have as much experience as many of the breeders here.

Technically I had an egg "cut" :rolleyes: at 36 days! Technically it fell and split open but so far the baby inside has done well. I did patch the egg up with some plastic wrap, but still. I just cut my eggs on day 56.

I'm one to point out my own flaws & mistakes, last season I had a temp malfunction & cut too early (for what temp they were actually running at) on my first clutch 9 eggs, 4 pastels 4 spiders 1 normal. the normal and 1 spider survived. I'm still not over it :rage::rage::rage:

I cut day 45-50 depending on the day of week it falls on. Never lost a hatchling or had problems.

When eggs develop mold on the surface where i cut or they pipped,I use sterile saline solution, few drops every other day till they hatch. This keeps the surface where you cut or where they have pipped clean and reduces bacterial growth till their out.

I incubate at 88.1-88.4 and all babies are out by day 54. Cutting a week ahead gives me a idea of whats in the egg and if anything is wrong with a baby inside that needs assisting.