How to handle the eggs?

I've seen some say to leave the eggs stuck together and put the whole pile as is into the incubator. And some others say to separate the eggs carefully before putting them into the incubator. So what am I really supposed to be doing? What is the safest method? What if I can't separate them?

And I understand that we're supposed to mark the top of the egg to keep it right side up, right?

Well, what I do is if I can easily separate the egg then I will slowly and carefully do that. If i'm met with the least type of resistance I don't pull on the egg at all. You will be able to tell if you can easily separate them or not. Marking the top of the egg is purely optional bc the way they are laid is the way they should always be handled and placed. You will do fine.

I just leave them in a heap. The whole 'this side up' is not the major stressor people make it out to be just lift move put down...done.

Thanks guys- so if I just leave them in a heap throughout the incubating and up until they're supposed to hatch, are there any risks?

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Thanks guys- so if I just leave them in a heap throughout the incubating and up until they're supposed to hatch, are there any risks?

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You risk mistaking nosy neighbors for twins. :D

Does being able to separate pretty much depend on how fast you get to them after she lays? Before they stick together? Also, as far as which side is up... Is the mother doing anything special other than gathering them in close so she can wrap them and keep them warm? I've seen videos where people candle them to make sure they are oriented correctly, but how does this happen naturally? Just curious. Although I have ZERO experience to base my opinion on, I'm in the camp where you should be able to put them in the incubator clumped up because I would assume this happens in the wild. Are keepers that separate and candle just trying to improve their odds so to speak? I know when I have my first clutch I'm going to be a nervous wreck. lol

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Originally Posted by John1982

You risk mistaking nosy neighbors for twins. :D

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LOL really, there aren't any risks? I wonder why people even separate them then...

I really just want the clutch to be healthy as they can be. I don't want to do anything weird on my first try. If separating them is just for the keeper's sake of candling, then I won't do it.

Cletus, I'm also going to be a nervous wreck. Because I'm already slightly, and I don't think my female has even ovulated LOL.

You are a great keeper It starts there. The experiences you've had with your husbandry practices and your reading and research on breeding and incubation will all fall into place as you go forward. You also have tons of help here with some of the most professional people right here on bp.net and all the sticky info at your fingertips. Most of all the mods here are experienced and happy to help allay your nervousness.

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Originally Posted by cletus

Does being able to separate pretty much depend on how fast you get to them after she lays? Before they stick together? Also, as far as which side is up... Is the mother doing anything special other than gathering them in close so she can wrap them and keep them warm? I've seen videos where people candle them to make sure they are oriented correctly, but how does this happen naturally? Just curious. Although I have ZERO experience to base my opinion on, I'm in the camp where you should be able to put them in the incubator clumped up because I would assume this happens in the wild. Are keepers that separate and candle just trying to improve their odds so to speak? I know when I have my first clutch I'm going to be a nervous wreck. lol

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You are a great keeper It starts there. The experiences you've had with your husbandry practices and your reading and research on breeding and incubation will all fall into place as you go forward. You also have tons of help here with some of the most professional people right here on bp.net and all the sticky info at your fingertips. Most of all the mods here are experienced and happy to help allay your nervousness.

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Originally Posted by cletus

Does being able to separate pretty much depend on how fast you get to them after she lays? Before they stick together? Also, as far as which side is up... Is the mother doing anything special other than gathering them in close so she can wrap them and keep them warm? I've seen videos where people candle them to make sure they are oriented correctly, but how does this happen naturally? Just curious. Although I have ZERO experience to base my opinion on, I'm in the camp where you should be able to put them in the incubator clumped up because I would assume this happens in the wild. Are keepers that separate and candle just trying to improve their odds so to speak? I know when I have my first clutch I'm going to be a nervous wreck. lol

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. I would venture to say that yes, the sooner you collect the eggs from the females coils has a impact on how easy it is to separate them. The longer period of time will add to the eggs sticking together is true. The female first instinct is to protect the eggs by coiling and generating the small amount of heat she does by muscular twitching and contracting. Candling is done mainly to determine vein structure and whether it's weak or strong. Mainly orientation is determined by the position the egg is laid and occurs shortly after laying. That is how it's determined naturally. Eggs are normally laid in a pile or clutch and are easily put into incubation as such. "Clumping" eggs are stronger together and have more of a resistance to outside risks IMO. It is what happens in the natural scheme. I think keepers who separate and candle that way just have a personal preference and surely have their own reasons why. Nervousness is expected on your initial attempts with eggs but you will surprise yourself when you are not a wreck...Lol. There is a abundance of resources right here on bp.net.;)

The side they are laid is the side that is correctly "up". The mamma snake does not need to do any sort of adjusting, up isn't a given so much as it becomes "up" once the eggs are lain because that's how everything settles. It's only disturbing them after the fact that can cause problems.

There are benefits to separating. The main one is, if an egg goes bad or needs attention, you have equal access to every egg. Murphy's law states that if an egg needs attention, and you haven't separated them, it will be the egg in the center of the pile.

I will be separating my eggs this year. Struggled with mold last year and from my experience it is much easier to just toss a bad separated egg rather than risk the rest of the clutch. I'm well aware of people leaving eggs clumped up and infertile or bad eggs moulding and not effecting the rest of the clutch, but one ad experience for me was enough :)


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I will pull apart if I can. I have also been able to collect the "jello" eggs and they feel really funky. (eggs fresh out of the female)
I rather separate them for ease of placing in tubs.

Thanks for all the good info. I've thought long and hard over whether or not I wanted to breed and I def want to give it a shot. It's awesome to have so much experience in one community. Thanks!

Thanks for the replies! Well, good to know that there ARE risks in not separating them now...? LOL

So assuming I can only separate one or two eggs, and the rest are really stuck together, how often do you try to pull them apart again after they've been in the incubator? How often do you check?

I wouldn't try to mess with them once you put them in the incubator unless you see signs of molding or other problems. The less you bother the eggs the better.