Holy crap what have I done!

Okay, so I was cleaning out Arizona's enclosure (the new 8 egg layer I just bought) and she slithered out and when I tried to pick her up by her coils I heard a really weird squishy noise around her lower back coil- if she were gravid I would assume I crushed an egg. I have never bred, yet so I literally have no idea how any of that works. But the person who sent her to me said she mated that year but he "didn't see anything" so could she possibly be carrying and I have possibly squished one of her precious babies? CRAP! I have an incubator but I literally just got it. I don't know which sand to use or anything. I am getting a bit ahead of myself anyway but as I looked her up and down she is pretty round with her lower half... pregnant looking to say it easier :(

The male was a black pastel something or another and that's fine and dandy but I have never done any of this before and I don't want to kill any babies. Also can anyone give me any specific behaviors that gravid females display that maybe I could also identify with her? Or X off the list? She is acting really weird tonight. Flickering all around. Refusing the warm side of the tank completely. Any advice would be appreciated. This is the same female whose temps I fixed completely last night. Now it's like she hates them but I put them to standard! :(

Honestly I am probably just freaking out. Haha, her tummy probably just made a noise. But she is definitely gravid looking. That I am not kidding about. Her lower half is very swollen though she won't eat. I better start researching this breeding business quick. I am not sure how this person didn't "notice anything"- she looks huge! I watched a couple a videos while I had time to properly freak out and it seems the bulge to me is pretty late stage. At least I think? I am not an expert. I was planning on preparing all my breeding inventory for next season, but then this little surprise hit me. I am not complaining but oh my gosh it's different for sure. Lot's of research is required.

Cutting the eggs is what scares me the most. My hands shake so that'll be a nightmare in general. Eeek. But I bought a pretty good little incubator so hopefully I won't screw that part up to much. Oh gosh and separating the eggs scares the crap out of me as well. Ugh.

You realize ball python hatchlings are able to get out of the egg all by themselves right? Cutting is by no means manditory.

And now I see that my reply might come off as abrasive. That wasn't my intent. Just trying to ease your concerns.

No, no, not abrasive. You're fine. I prefer the idea of them coming out themselves but someone told me they could drown if they lost their tooth so it was just safer all around to cut them? Is that true? If not then I'd love to let them come out on their own. It's more natural and definitely more cute to see little heads peeking out. Thanks for your advice!

Photos??
Just relax and take it one day at a time.
You do not have to cut the eggs, it more for us to see whats inside. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Zombree

No, no, not abrasive. You're fine. I prefer the idea of them coming out themselves but someone told me they could drown if they lost their tooth so it was just safer all around to cut them? Is that true? If not then I'd love to let them come out on their own. It's more natural and definitely more cute to see little heads peeking out. Thanks for your advice!

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If you prefer letting them pip on there own, then just do that. The odds that one of your babies drowns in the egg are pretty slim. The whole debate about cutting vs not cutting is silly.

Congratulations Mom! :gj:

Aswell unless your deathgripping the snake i highly doubt they are being squished inside of her, They are vary mooshy inside of the snake to say, and you can notice when she lays them they are very pliable not 100% like jelly, but there eggs are nothing like chicken eggs, youll see it when it happens there egg shell is more like a ballon or damp paper kinda feeling,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Photos??
Just relax and take it one day at a time.
You do not have to cut the eggs, it more for us to see whats inside. :gj:

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I'll be sure to put up photos when my fiance gets home, I don't want to man handle her and try to take pictures, too. She was squirming like a retic on the run last night not sure why, haha. My fiance is a trucker, though. He'll be back in a week. If she calms down I'll get some pictures up. She was not having it last night, though, lol. Poor lady.

Thanks for the advice on cutting! YouTube will give you all kinds of opinions, I wasn't sure.