Deformation rates

[JodanOrNoDan]

For those that have hatched enough eggs to begin having usable stats, let's say 50+. What has been your rate of non-viable deformation in eggs that have gone full term? These numbers should not include incubator accidents or known genetically risky breedings (spider x spider) etc.

My numbers are sitting at 1 in 70 where the animal needs to be euthanized on hatching. My rate is the same at this point whether it is a closely related breeding or a totally unrelated one. Typical deformations seem to be severe kinking or underdeveloped lower jaw. In every case I have had so far, the deformation has not been repeated with the same breeding and it has always been a single normal looking egg of a larger clutch (8 or more).

My latest problem was this weekend, very nice clutch of 9 large eggs with another "world's first" inside. Mother and father are solid breeders and the pairing has been done before. Eggs piped Friday, right on schedule. I cut and everything seemed normal. 8 of the 9 had heads hanging out within a couple hours. The next day 4 were out of the egg but one still had not come up for air. As is normal for me, I prodded the rest of them out of the egg. I had to remove #9. It was alive but so severely kinked it could not unwrap itself. I chased my kids of the room before they noticed and did what needed to be done.

Any data anyone else has gathered would be helpful.

Thanks

[StillBP]

I've hatched several hundred Eggs. And have lost a few babies due to circumstances but not hatched anything deformed yet.

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[JodanOrNoDan]

I've hatched several hundred Eggs. And have lost a few babies due to circumstances but not hatched anything deformed yet.

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Thanks, what temps are you incubating at? I am usually low 87-88. Most likely coincidental, but the only thing the deformed animals have had in common were that they were 3-5 gene animals. I have never had a problem with a normal or single gene.

[StillBP]

Thanks, what temps are you incubating at? I am usually low 87-88. Most likely coincidental, but the only thing the deformed animals have had in common were that they were 3-5 gene animals. I have never had a problem with a normal or single gene.

88.9° exactly. I've hatched a few 3-5 gene. But I generally try for 3 at most. Alot of the 5 gene animals don't look as nice as a 3 gene

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[JodanOrNoDan]

88.9° exactly. I've hatched a few 3-5 gene. But I generally try for 3 at most. Alot of the 5 gene animals don't look as nice as a 3 gene

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Yeah, I agree. I think I have one animal personal/breeding group that is over three genes and that one I kept because it was a "first". Most of my breeding females are exceptional single gene or super/als animals. At four genes, in most cases you start to get mud. People want the stacked genes though.

[paulh]

I've had my share of dead embryos and deformed babies in normal Colubrids. I've never bred ball pythons. Worst I remember was a stillborn bullsnake that had the two halves of a loop fused together belly to belly. I've also seen tiny, deformed lower jaws in a litter of timber rattlesnakes. Small/missing eye on one or both sides have turned up in a variety of species. Worst of all was the loss of my Burmese python and her entire clutch. Probable cause was vitamin A deficiency. I don't recall any kinks in my babies, but I think vitamin deficiencies many be implicated in a lot of that sort of problem and in bugeyed babies.