Do you cut your eggs?

Hey Guys,

So I've been watching recent debates about whether or not people cut their eggs, some people say never and other's cut when deemed appropriate. I normally cut but only after the first egg pipped. My reasoning is, after the first egg pips it's a good indication that the clutch has developed to the point that cutting won't affect further development. I would rather cut the eggs than lose them in the event that a snake doesn't develop an egg tooth, or loses it's tooth for some reason.

I was wondering about everyone else, what do you do and why?

I wanted an option that says "No, I don't cut unless I feel there is a risk to the baby" or something like that. This topic has SEVERAL polls already done on it...so I'm not sure why we have another poll when a simple search could have found this result.

However, I do not cut. I do have a moldy egg that I'll be cutting but the rest of the clutch will pip on it's own.

Yup, soon as the first one pips.
Voted.

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Originally Posted by BHReptiles

I wanted an option that says "No, I don't cut unless I feel there is a risk to the baby" or something like that. This topic has SEVERAL polls already done on it...so I'm not sure why we have another poll when a simple search could have found this result.

However, I do not cut. I do have a moldy egg that I'll be cutting but the rest of the clutch will pip on it's own.

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hmm didn't see one before - oh well, guess you could have not posted if you felt this thread was a waste of time.

But yes, I should have added that option. Didn't think of it, my apologies.

I have never let one pip on their own

In fairness, the search function needs a revamp bad imho. I get meaningless results a lot of the time and the advanced search either doesn't work properly or isn't intuitive enough for a bozo like me.

Yes because like everything else I do, I do so to give the hatchlings the best chances, which is why I use an incubator vs maternal incubation and why I cut.

While drowning is rare it does happen, I have seen it in person and since since then have decided to I put all the chances on my side by cutting.

It does not mean that I make a huge cut exposing the animal, I do a single small slit and put the eggs back in the incubator.

At the temp I incubate now (lower then previous years) I cut at day 55.

Yes....and no...:)

Usually, I cut stragglers after the majority of a clutch as pipped. This year, I didn't cut a single living egg (did open a dead one, though, out of curiosity). So, maybe . . . A play cutting by ear option?

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Originally Posted by decensored

hmm didn't see one before - oh well, guess you could have not posted if you felt this thread was a waste of time.

But yes, I should have added that option. Didn't think of it, my apologies.

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Lol, there have been a ton, probably 5-10 every breeding season, but alas, we all survive and enjoy the addition to our post count ;)

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Originally Posted by MrLang

In fairness, the search function needs a revamp bad imho. I get meaningless results a lot of the time and the advanced search either doesn't work properly or isn't intuitive enough for a bozo like me.

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I'm afraid I have to agree sometimes. The times I've wanted to use the search function I had to wade through pages of nothingness. And I don't know if it's me or the system either, lol.




To answer the question I cut on day 52, sometimes day 54 -depends on if I'm around. If I won't be around, I do not cut. I cut because I'm impatient and for that one in a hundred chance the baby drowns.

I never cut unless everyone has pipped and out and one doesn't. I have hatched 100's of ball pythons and never cut and consequently have never had an unabsorbed yolk sac either. I have also seen them vary up to 10 days difference in hatching time. My theory is they are ready when they are ready, not when you are.

To each his own, I don't look down on anyone who cuts but I feel nature knows better than me and I go with the flow and prefer not to force the issue. That's just how I roll :relax:

I cut at day 52-55 .. just can't contain my excitement :/ .. never had any health issues (like twisted umbilical cord) or a hatchling die so far - I incubate at 87-88; thats the incubator temperature NOT the temperature in the egg box .. I have never even measured the temperature in the egg box

I cut at day 50 this year.

I cant see the poll bc im on tapatalk.

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Originally Posted by sasT

I cut at day 52-55 .. just can't contain my excitement :/ .. never had any health issues (like twisted umbilical cord) or a hatchling die so far - I incubate at 87-88; thats the incubator temperature NOT the temperature in the egg box .. I have never even measured the temperature in the egg box

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The temp inside the egg box should be about the same as the ambient temp inside the incubator. The actual eggs are several degrees warmer though...I checked mine this year just out of curiosity and they read about 93-95 while I incubate at 89...

I cut at day 54-55 Basically just because I can't wait to see what is inside the eggs... I never had a problem yet after several years now...

I've always preferred scrambled eggs,so not much cutting involved.

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Originally Posted by sho220

The temp inside the egg box should be about the same as the ambient temp inside the incubator. The actual eggs are several degrees warmer though...I checked mine this year just out of curiosity and they read about 93-95 while I incubate at 89...

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Good to know that actually. I would of never thought to check the egg temps, but then again since nobody else has posted apparently not many others thought to either.

I'm a noob, but my plan is to not cut the eggs unless I have a straggler that hasn't pipped on it's own. I did have a couple clutches this year and cut some of the eggs on the first clutch, mostly out of impatience on day 53. Second clutch was allowed to pip on its own. Although neither way gave me any problems, I was more comfortable letting them come in their own time, so thats what my plan is for the future.

I cut on day 55-57 depending in how much sleep I`m getting. Sometimes you just cant get it out of your head...