To cut, or not to cut. Help appreciated!

Hello there! I'm in a bit of a pickle and would love some input from all of you BP.netters. My first and longly anticipated clutch of Ball Python eggs is on day 54; the clutch was incubated at ~88 degrees. Starting on the 10th, day 62, I'm going to be away for 4 days.

I'm on the fence about whether to cut the eggs on Friday (day 56), or wait until the first one pips, hopefully before day 62. My thought is that if I cut on day 56, I could at least keep an eye on the eggs for about a week and troubleshoot any issues that may or may not arise. The problem is that 88 degrees is a little on the low side, and day 56 is a bit early to cut at that temperature. As this is my first ball clutch, I also have zero experience cutting eggs (though I'm honestly not worried about it). It's my hope that cutting on day 56 would mean the snakes are out by the time I leave. I should also note here that some of the eggs are pretty darn dimpled, one in particular that started deflating about a week and a half ago is almost alarmingly so.

Not cutting could mean one of two things. Either the eggs don't pip by the time I leave and I'm not sure of the status of the eggs (i.e. if there are any remediable problems with them), or they do and I cut the rest of the clutch. This worries me because, again, I won't be able to troubleshoot any issues with the freshly cut eggs. It seems preferable to me, however, to allow the snakes the time to pip on their own. I'd rather be confident that they are fully developed and ready to exit their eggs before cutting into them.

So after that long winded spiel, the question is--to cut, or not to cut? I know ultimately it is my decision, but I'd love to get some opinions either way. I'll throw up a poll, but any further insight on why you chose what you did would be very appreciated. Thanks for your time and input guys and gals!

Cheers,
-Matt

Hey Matt,

I don't think this will answer your question but I did go through pretty much the same dilemma last year that you are having now so I thought to reply.

Out of a 6 egg clutch, 5 pipped on their own in a timely manner. (Sorry I don't recall the incubation day and I wish I would because I also incubate my eggs at 88 degrees). Anyways, there was one left to pip and I was leaving for vacation in two days. So I decided to cut the remaining egg. (Also my first time doing it. Not to difficult BTW). The little bugger was out and scooting around the egg tub the very next day after I snipped.

So here is my opinion... If you would rather have them pip on their own, don't cut the eggs until you absolutely have to. From my experience, it only takes the babies a few days to come out of the eggs after they pipped.

Hope this helps just a little. Keep us posted on what you decide to do and how it turns out. Just curious.

I would personally find it odd if you didn't have one pip by then but then again, I've always had one pip by day 55 incubating at 98•.

If you don't cut and there is a problem, you could end up with babies in trouble. If you do cut and there is a problem you're in the same boat.

Honestly, I'd wait until the last night before you leave and then make your decision. If none have pipped but they candle good with veins and movement, then I'd cut a small flap just to be sure all babies can make it out.

What the heck?? I don't know what the "•" stuff at the end of my last post is but it was a degree dot originally.. Lol! I didn't notice it in time to edit it out.

Thanks for the votes and advice guys! Haha, it's still such a tough call. Any more input would be very welcomed at this point. Thanks again everyone!

Cheers,
-Matt

Grrrr--still not sure what to do about this. I was thinking of cutting the severely dimpled egg, but I know if I do I'm just going to cut the rest of them, lol. That one egg looks like it needs some attention though. It started dimpling from the side, rather than the top, and by day 45 it was easily half it's normal size horizontally. I'm pretty sure that hatchling is going to be deformed, but I guess we'll see. Hrmmmmm...

Cheers,
-Matt

I cut everything by day 45-50. Nothing will harm them as long as your not making sun roofs. Just small enough hole for their head to fit and your fine.

I wait until the first pips before I cut the rest! This way I know that they are ready! Since you don't have experience cutting then I would wait until day 60 or the first one pips, whichever comes first! This way you still have two days for them to come out while your home. Experienced breeders like Rich cut earlier because they know how to take care of them after and they know the signs to watch out for! Good luck! Not an easy decision!!!

Severely dimpled isn't usually a bad thing. It happens close to hatch time anyway. The baby should be ok. It's so close to hatch time I don't see the harm in making a small flap in them to check them.

Haha, thanks for additional input and votes everyone. I just keep telling myself, "One more day. One more day." I'm going to wait until day 60 if they haven't pipped on their own. Tomorrow is day 58, so hopefully we'll see some noses soon. I'm still on the fence about that one egg; I'm going to set up another egg tub tonight, and I might cut just that one tomorrow. I'm thinking I should get the worst out of the way first, so everything after that is more positive. I know extreme dimpling is normal at the end of incubation, but this egg is and has been pretty ridiculous. I decided early on not to mess with it too much, and it might have been the wrong call, but we'll see soon. Just watch, it will be the ultimate heart-breaker. Not only will it be deformed, which would kill my soul in a big way, but it will also be the Super Pastel Pied that I'm hoping for. Anywho, thanks for all the advice and support again, it has been very appreciated!

Cheers,
-Matt

Please keep us posted on progress..thanks

sent from my EVO , with Tapatalk

I had one 2 years ago that had me worried. It was basically flat. That egg had a very thin and almost translucent shell. It had dimpled so much that I wondered how the baby had any room in there but like usual, that clutch (8 eggs) began to pip at 54-55 days and I cut them all. That baby was normal size and fine.

I imagine it was glad to be out of that cramped egg though!

I'm not sure why mine always pip so early compared to some others but I've never had a clutch go the full 60 days. Not from any female. I incubate in a large igloo cooler with bulbs mounted inside PVC pipe drilled full of large holes which snakes in a figure 8 from one end to the other. A computer fan mounted behind each bulb to push the heat throughout. Then an additional fan in the center to keep heat even in the incubator. All below a raised grate that my sealed egg boxes sit on which are set up with substrateless method to keep humidity close to 100%. Temp maintained at 98 degrees using a herpstat. It's a fairly controlled environment and I've never had any fluctuations. I replace fans and bulbs seasonly and they are very inexpensive.

Maybe this has something to do with my early pippers.

I cut mine around day 52-54 without having any issues. I just feel better knowing that they aren't going to drown, and the cut eggs are really easy to care for. I keep a water bottle to mist the eggs once or twice a day to keep them wet and clean the gunk out.

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Originally Posted by JeffD

Please keep us posted on progress..thanks

sent from my EVO , with Tapatalk

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I definitely will. Thanks for the interest!

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Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

I had one 2 years ago that had me worried. It was basically flat. That egg had a very thin and almost translucent shell. It had dimpled so much that I wondered how the baby had any room in there but like usual, that clutch (8 eggs) began to pip at 54-55 days and I cut them all. That baby was normal size and fine.

I imagine it was glad to be out of that cramped egg though!

I'm not sure why mine always pip so early compared to some others but I've never had a clutch go the full 60 days. Not from any female. I incubate in a large igloo cooler with bulbs mounted inside PVC pipe drilled full of large holes which snakes in a figure 8 from one end to the other. A computer fan mounted behind each bulb to push the heat throughout. Then an additional fan in the center to keep heat even in the incubator. All below a raised grate that my sealed egg boxes sit on which are set up with substrateless method to keep humidity close to 100%. Temp maintained at 98 degrees using a herpstat. It's a fairly controlled environment and I've never had any fluctuations. I replace fans and bulbs seasonly and they are very inexpensive.

Maybe this has something to do with my early pippers.

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Sounds like a unique incubator setup--I'd love to see it! Just to clarify, do you mean 89 degrees?? It is funny how some people seem to have clutches go consistently long, and others consistently short, even at the same temperatures. I wonder if there's something to it? I wonder if the photoperiod the eggs see through the glass doors of fridge-incubators affect how long the snakes stay in there. No idea.

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Originally Posted by SlitherinSisters

I cut mine around day 52-54 without having any issues. I just feel better knowing that they aren't going to drown, and the cut eggs are really easy to care for. I keep a water bottle to mist the eggs once or twice a day to keep them wet and clean the gunk out.

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I managed to leave them alone today. Tomorrow is day 59. If I don't cut tomorrow, I might as well just leave them be. Cutting tomorrow would mean I have 2 full days before my trip to see how the eggs do. I'm just praying they pip. It seems like a lot of clutches that pip themselves are out and about in the following day or two. *twitch*

Haha, anywho, thanks again everyone! As I've said already the support and input is very much appreciated. Hopefully I'll wake up tomorrow morning to a nose or two, and if not, I might just have to break out the scissors. Hrmmmmmmm. Is patience a good or a bad thing in this case, that's the real dilemma. I have plenty of patience, I'm just not sure if I should use it here :P.

Cheers,
-Matt

Ha! Yes I meant 89 not 98!

My incubator does have a fairly large window cut in the front. Plexiglass set in it and sealed with clear caulk. A light mounted inside with a switch on the outside so I can turn it on and see my boxes and eggs without opening the incubator. The whole thing is pretty cool.

I woke up to a nose poking this morning!!!! I'm so excited! I'll keep everyone updated!
:banana::banana::banana::snake::snake::snake::banana::banana::banana:

Cheers,
-Matt

No Pieds, but still pretty good odds! I got two normals, a Pastel, and two Super Pastels! The normals both have really pronounced head spots, and from what I can tell, the Supers are really nice looking. I'll be posting a thread about it tomorrow!! Jeez, the whole thing is just SO COOL!!!
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Cheers,
-Matt

Congratulations, it is supercool! :gj:

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Originally Posted by Matt K

No Pieds, but still pretty good odds! I got two normals, a Pastel, and two Super Pastels! The normals both have really pronounced head spots, and from what I can tell, the Supers are really nice looking. I'll be posting a thread about it tomorrow!! Jeez, the whole thing is just SO COOL!!!
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Cheers,
-Matt

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Awesome to follow this thread and finally see hatchling results! Cant wait to see those pictuhas

Finally got some pictures up! Thanks again everyone!

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...26#post1701926

Cheers,
-Matt

looking good man, really love the look of those supers! congrats!

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Originally Posted by PweEzy

looking good man, really love the look of those supers! congrats!

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Thanks a lot! Soon it will be time to try and get them eating!

Cheers,
-Matt