Is this normal movement? At Day 49

Hi guys! As you know, this is my first clutch and I have been so paranoid, I had some humidity issues in the beginning and a couple of temp fluctuations when my cat unplugged everything twice (a week apart) allowing temps to drop to 82 for 24 hours before noticing (has me very nervous), but I slowly rewarmed them each time so as not to shock them and we have been at a fairly steady 88.5-89.4* range. Now I'm just wondering if any one could tell me if this seems like normal movement? I'm so afraid a poor baby will be deformed and am not sure what normal movement looks like at this stage?
Any and all help will be appreciated!

https://youtu.be/Klw2NpU9O1c

This is what they look like today! The top egg right in the center is the one being candled.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/files/7/9/1/8/9/9.jpg

I may be wrong, but I don't think "movement" (or lack thereof) is a good indicator of defects, unfortunately. But I would surely "un-plug" the cat. :rolleyes:

Darn! I was hoping maybe a difference in jerky or smooth/fluid movements could indicate a potential issue, it would put me at ease lol

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Originally Posted by Meredithm115

Darn! I was hoping maybe a difference in jerky or smooth/fluid movements could indicate a potential issue, it would put me at ease lol

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Hatching snakes is mostly a "wait & see". ;) And candling eggs to excess (especially causing motion) may actually cause detrimental issues. Leave them be. I've only ever candled briefly, just to see the redness/veins- to know they're good eggs.

And I wouldn't say it can "hear" you but for sure it can feel the vibrations of your voice- again though, not a good thing to do, IMO.

I don't candle my eggs because I can't control what happens inside.
I have no frame of reference other than peering through windowed eggs, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong...doesn't that embryo in the video looks super small for 49 days?
I wouldn't consider cutting that one until day 80 even if all the others pip at day 60.

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

...doesn't that embryo in the video looks super small for 49 days?....

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Yes, now that you mention it. Probably due to the temperature fluctuations- slowed the growth.

Sometimes one can be developing slower than the rest of the clutch, sometimes there can be actual problems and one doesn't make it. The more you mess with them, the worse it's going to be though. Try your best to leave them alone besides checking temps/humidity and for pips once a day at most. I wouldn't be opening up the clutch box at all unless I saw mold and needed to treat it or pull bad eggs.

The temps dropping to what they did is not going to hurt anything at all, it's still in the correct range, it just means that for that 24 hrs, they were developing more slowly, so it may add a day onto the hatch time. In nature, they are not getting perfectly stable temps at the most optimal temp for quick hatching.

It's really tough to leave them alone and not worry, it's really exciting and nerve wracking your first time, but there really is nothing you can do besides keeping temps/humidity correct and treating mold. You just have to let nature take its course. I agree with Sorril, I wouldn't cut that egg and give it extra time if it needs.

You're so right, I've been candling every other day the last week bc I want to be aware of any veins disappearing or changes in movement and I need to lay off, I will do my best to leave them be!

Oh no, I worried they were behind a bit because of my lower temps at times but I didnt think they looked that small! I was hoping for pips by days 60-65, but 80!? I thought they were good so long as they fill up like half to three quarters of the egg by now, and I wasnt planning on doing any cutting until the first one pips, if at all, only if I felt it was neccessary

Here are a couple at day 49 from a quick google search and you can see it's not terribly far off, but seems a bit behind. I'm used to eggs hatching pretty close to 55 or 56, a bit ahead of what I expect from these pictures. It may not take 80, but it's certainly not unheard of with suboptimal temps.

https://external-content.duckduckgo....jpg&f=1&nofb=1

https://external-content.duckduckgo....jpg&f=1&nofb=1

Here is a photo of one of mine I just took today 6/2/21 at Day 16:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...nqnsow8h6l.jpg
Candling may not be the best method to determine the state of progression of a developing embryo.
I personally don't see a huge difference. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

Here is a photo of one of mine I just took today 6/2/21 at Day 16:


Candling may not be the best method to determine the state of progression of a developing embryo.
I personally don't see a huge difference. :)

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Agreed with Lord Sorril comment above.

Also exact temperatures are not easy to to monitor, even with a minimum maximum thermometer which is better but i dont think your using. No thermometer is perfect.
I also agree with not cutting until others have piped. Give it a chance, maybe temperatures are not exactly the same for each egg. they are in different positions from the heat source and may have different cooling due to evaporation of water on them. In addition, slightly different amounts of nutriments in each egg make a difference. Hatch dates is not an exact science.

I am a noob as well and after having my first clutch go pretty badly my advice is to not overthink this. Keep your temp and humidity as stable as you can and deal with mold as needed. Other than that there’s not much else you can do that’s helpful for the animals or your own sanity. Kind of like the expression that a watched pot never boils. Go with the flow, learn from your mistakes and trust in nature to find a way. Hope everything turns out awesome for you!!