Egg cutting question..

Sorry for yet another egg cutting question...but do you need to sterilize the scissors you cut the eggs with? If so, how do you (those that do) sterilize them?

Or, is it an unnecessary thing to worry about?

I just use hand sanitizer on the scissors and then wipe them clean. Its not needed and wont harm the eggs/snakes if you dont do it.

You could probably also just dip the scissors in rubbing alchohol.

So, in your opinions, then, there is no NEED to sanitize them, right? Thanks.

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Originally Posted by ClarkT

So, in your opinions, then, there is no NEED to sanitize them, right? Thanks.

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That wouldn't be my opinion. Chances are that unsterilized scissors won't infect the snake, but I'm sure there is still a chance depending on how dirty the scissors are and whether or not you sever a blood vessel. It takes a second to rub the scissors with rubbing alcohol... I don't know why you wouldn't want to take that extra step.

I sanitize. Even my hand before I handle newborns but it Takes two seconds. I have Many different species of reptiles so it's just a good habit to get in to. Personally I don't cut eggs. I've had to before but I don't like to. They will come out on their own. If the situation is detrimental sure. But for most it's impatience.

I'm not saying I wouldn't do it. It's just another question of many I have of extra, unnecessary steps in this breeding process. I'm not saying it's a hard thing to do. I'm not saying it's a time consuming step. I'm just wondering about its necessity.

I don't see scissor sterilization mentioned on almost all videos of cutting eggs. If it's necessary, it ought to be pointed out in instructional videos. If not, then that's ok that it's not mentioned.

Thanks for the replies.

Hi,

You don't see the chef washing his hands after visiting the loo on most cookery shows either. :P

There are always basic assumptions made about levels of cleanliness and experience in these things.

If you washed the scissors after use the last time and they have been in their packet ever since then it is a lot less important than if you set them down with eggwhite still on them then left them sitting out in a hot room.

But for ten seconds work it seems like a good habit to get into.

I would definately ask about the other unnecessary steps you are seeing however - you might get some surprising answers. :)


dr del

My clippers get washed and cleaned before and after each use. Not sure if it helps or hurts but better safe than sorry..

I already had another thread about other questions. Things like temperature dropping for breeding, egg temp fluctuations, rolling the eggs, etc...I'm by no means stating that it is not a necessary step in things to sanitize the scissors. I just haven't really seen it mentioned.

Some people use the same substrate year after year. Some don't. How well do they try to sanitize it? How do they sanitize it?

If sanitizing is such an issue with eggs, why can you leave a dead egg in the incubator, stuck to a good egg? It rots, stinks, and grows all kinds of bacteria and mold. Yet it still doesn't harm the good egg. It then doesn't really make sense that sanitizing is as big of an issue as some might think. Obviously we want to be as careful with babies as possible. Again, I'm not saying not to do it. I'm just wondering its necessity.

Some people swear by using press-n-seal on the egg tub. Others absolutely don't.

Some say you can't have a temp swing larger than 3 deg. on the eggs. What if they swing more, but the swing is more gradual? Is it a condensation issue? If a temperature swing is not quick, then condensation doesn't really happen... Obviously, nobody has done enough experimenting to know the answers on these things. I'm just a curious guy...

Do you sanitize the paper towels that you put the babies on?

Another one is that some have told me to keep the babies in the incubator until they shed--like baby chicks, they think they need to be warmer than a normal snake. But I see RDR and JKR not doing so. They put them in the baby racks where the temp is 80. Not incubator temp of 90...

Like I said, I just have a lot of questions.

I doubt if you're going to get any "right" answers with most of those questions. There are many, MANY gray areas in this hobby. There are a number of ways to achieve the same results, so it's impossible to say "this" is the right way.

However, the more experience you get, the more you realize what works for you. It's obviously a good idea to keep things clean and it doesn't take much effort to clean a pair of scissors, so most people are probably going to tell you that it's a good idea to clean them. You're going to get more varied answers with questions like "What substrate should I use?", but that doesn't necessarily mean there is a right or wrong method.

Finally to touch on a couple of your points: a moldy egg next to a good egg is probably a slight risk, but a viable egg is sealed and has it's own methods to ward off infection. You run the risk of breaking that seal (tearing the egg) if you try to remove a moldy one attached to it. And I have never heard of anyone reusing substrate year after year. Vermiculate is cheap and gets pretty gross after the eggs hatch. I'm not sure why anyone would want to reuse it, but it's not my place to say that it's "wrong". ;)

Ok.

I'll have a go at some of these. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ClarkT

I already had another thread about other questions. Things like temperature dropping for breeding, egg temp fluctuations, rolling the eggs, etc...I'm by no means stating that it is not a necessary step in things to sanitize the scissors. I just haven't really seen it mentioned.

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I try and avoid doing all of the above.

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Originally Posted by ClarkT

Some people use the same substrate year after year. Some don't. How well do they try to sanitize it? How do they sanitize it?

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I have never reused egg substrate - it's fairly cheap and can get covered in egg white during pipping or cutting. I just buy new stuff.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ClarkT

If sanitizing is such an issue with eggs, why can you leave a dead egg in the incubator, stuck to a good egg? It rots, stinks, and grows all kinds of bacteria and mold. Yet it still doesn't harm the good egg. It then doesn't really make sense that sanitizing is as big of an issue as some might think. Obviously we want to be as careful with babies as possible. Again, I'm not saying not to do it. I'm just wondering its necessity.

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Because the egg has an immune system and the shell is designed to protect the contents. When you cut you open the egg up and often some people can nick a few blood vessels as well. This makes it easier for infections to take hold - much like a cut in your skin.

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Originally Posted by ClarkT

Some people swear by using press-n-seal on the egg tub. Others absolutely don't.

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This depends on how good your humidity is and how well your egg boxes seal.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ClarkT

Some say you can't have a temp swing larger than 3 deg. on the eggs. What if they swing more, but the swing is more gradual? Is it a condensation issue? If a temperature swing is not quick, then condensation doesn't really happen... Obviously, nobody has done enough experimenting to know the answers on these things. I'm just a curious guy...

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Some people do experiment a bit - Muddoc for example.

But most people don't really want to do anything intentionally that might harm the eggs. How would you feel if you killed a whole clutch because you got curious. I've done it by making a mistake setting up an eggbox and I can assure you I don't want to do it again.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ClarkT

Do you sanitize the paper towels that you put the babies on?

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No. But then I don't use dirty or used papertowels either - and I change it when it gets soiled.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ClarkT

Another one is that some have told me to keep the babies in the incubator until they shed--like baby chicks, they think they need to be warmer than a normal snake. But I see RDR and JKR not doing so. They put them in the baby racks where the temp is 80. Not incubator temp of 90...

Like I said, I just have a lot of questions.

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Where are you getting that temp of 80 from? I have never seen either of those two say that? I might have missed it but it seems a little low - I keep mine at a flat 86f.


dr del