If and when to cut

I'll admit it. I'm impatient and almost always cut around day 52 or 53.

When cutting, I wait until the majority of a clutch has pipped, then make a tiny slit in the eggs of the stragglers as a 'just in case' kinda thing. That way, if something goes wrong, they have an air supply, and I can play it by ear from there. Breaching the shell has to potential to be serious. Usually it's not and everything is fine, but every once in a while, something icky gets in. Not gonna lie, when curious, I candle with an older style flashlight. Depending on what you're working with, you can totally identify what morph a late-term BP fetus is through the shell. It seems like I've started making out pattern ~Day 35ish. (Please note that candling is as unnatural as cutting and will stress babies.)

Last year I didn't cut at all and was happy I didn't --- it seemed more rewarding somehow to watch everybody pip on their own.

As a side note, it's seemed so far that the babies that pip on their own are quicker to feed over-all than the babies whose eggs I've cut.

Ugh, day 56 and still nothing. I have been expecting pips all weekend but nothing has happened. I incubated at 89-90 the whole time, I expected them to pip already.

Were you checking the temps with a gun as well to see that it is 89 to 90 as the thermostat reads? If so it should be anytime now.

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Originally Posted by rlditmars

Were you checking the temps with a gun as well to see that it is 89 to 90 as the thermostat reads? If so it should be anytime now.

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Yes, I have 2 thermometers and a temp gun......the wait is torture. I'm anxious to see who the father was

I agree with Paul, there is no reason to cut. Of course I'll also admit to a great deal of impatience myself. If I DO cut I wait until the 1st one has pipped, though I also admit that I'm doing it for myself not for the sake of the snakes.