Not looking good.. Deformed hatchlings

Hi folks,
it's been a while since someone posted something, so i'm gonna share my experience on this subject.

I'm pretty sure, that the shark mouth deformation mostly is caused by humidity issues.
I had a Bumbelbelly x Ivory clutch (3 eggs) in 2014, that had the same problem. 2 of the animals peeked out of the egg, the third one died in the egg. The eggs dried out for about a day or two, because i didn't put the top cover of the box on correctly, so most of the humidity got lost too quickly.
The babys would have been 2 gorgeous Bumblebellys and one SpiderIvory (possible BumblebeeIvory).

This year i had a BlackPastel het. Albino x AlbinoSpider clutch with the same incubation issue. I check the incubator every one or two days. at about week 3 into incubation i noticed that the eggs were dipping and then noticed that all the water in the box was gone (to this day i don't know why, all other clutches were ok). I immediately refilled the box with water and the eggs recoiled a bit, but not to the original form. 2 days ago on day 58 of incubation i cut the eggs just a tiny bit to see if there is anything alive in those eggs. One day later a Classic het. Albino and a AlbinoBlackbee were peeking out. Sadly both with the deformed/way to short jaw. The 2 remaining animals are still sitting in the egg and haven't peeked out jet. Over the night, the first 2 that peeked out thoght it was a good idea to leave the egg. The Classic strangled itself with its ambilical cord and was discovered dead in the morning. The AlbinoBlackbee was still allive. I seperated the AlBb to an other plastic box with wet tissue on the bottom. At this point the animal still hat it's ambilical cord attatched to the yolk that remained in the egg. I honestly expected the animal to be dead in the evening, but supringly it somehow cut the amilical cord and its belly closed up. Then i noticed severe wobbling with the animal and of course the way to short lower jaw. Right now, i'm waiting for the other 2 to climb out of their egg, but i expect them to have the same deformation. I'll keep you guys updated.

In 2014 i've had a second clutch with 2 deformed babys. But i think that's something for an other thread, because they didn't have the shark mouth. But that was the most horrific clutch i've ever hatched. Severe head deformation + belly grown together + heart beating outside of the body. I took pictures and a clip of that, but honestly try to avoid looking at it cause it disturbs me too much.

When i finally figure out how to upload pics here i'll post some of them

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Originally Posted by Matches Beck

When i finally figure out how to upload pics here i'll post some of them

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http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-Post-Pictures

@PitOnTheProwl: Thanks mate!

Here some pics of the 2014 Bumblebelly x Ivory clutch - with shark mouth
http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...2/img_1750.jpg

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...2/img_1752.jpg

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...2/img_1753.jpg

And there are the most recent pics of the Blackpastel het. Albino x AlbinoSpider clutch of 2016 - also with the shark mouth
http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...52_-_kopie.jpg

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...802_065429.jpg

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...35_-_kopie.jpg


And here the most horrific animal i hatched - from Enchi x Pastel in 2014 - notice that the animal was still alive and the heart next to it was still beating
http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...2/img_1686.jpg

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...2/img_1685.jpg

:please: white anaconda ,oh forget name tyepe man??http://laissezachats.net/231/o.png

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Originally Posted by jasonandreaspeters

:please: white anaconda ,oh forget name tyepe man??http://laissezachats.net/231/o.png

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Sorry mate, i don't get what you're trying to say!?

Good post for people to understand that things can go wrong even with a "safe" pairing.

We can create all the morphs in the world and be successful at it. Then there are those times Mother Nature is going to step in and take control of everything as it relates to morbidity and mortality. She is one of two supreme forces that has the final say. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Galaxygirl

Does anyone have instructions on how to pith a snake? I can't find any information on it.. Or would it be easier to use CO2? I'm not sure if that's what rodent breeders use, honestly wasn't prepared for something like this.

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Hatchlings are pretty simple. Put baby in a folded paper towel then into a sandwich bag, note where head is. It will be still and calm because it is dark and safe in there. Completely smash head with any tool or your thumb. It does not take much to do and the towel should be wet when the job is done well. It is very fast and the hatchlings that I have done this way due to severe kinking and jaw deformaties have gone very fast with nearly no twitching afterwards. Since it is already in a bag, there is no mess or gore to see. It happens, even when you have done everything right.

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Originally Posted by Kibbleswhites

Hatchlings are pretty simple. Put baby in a folded paper towel then into a sandwich bag, note where head is. It will be still and calm because it is dark and safe in there. Completely smash head with any tool or your thumb. It does not take much to do and the towel should be wet when the job is done well. It is very fast and the hatchlings that I have done this way due to severe kinking and jaw deformaties have gone very fast with nearly no twitching afterwards. Since it is already in a bag, there is no mess or gore to see. It happens, even when you have done everything right.

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Eugh. Gosh, is there a less brutal way to do it?

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Originally Posted by Fraido

Eugh. Gosh, is there a less brutal way to do it?

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As brutal as it sounds, complete cranial destruction is the most humane way to do it.