Maternal Incubation at Room Temperature

[Bonn Cabrera]

Good day, keepers!

I am currently busy with my breeding project. I had my female normal "Olympia" bred to multiple males, and she laid a clutch of 5 good eggs last 12th of July.

I decided to hit my luck with maternal incubation, and I am glad to say that today 31st August (I am from Manila) is the 50th day of the clutch. The eggs are still doing good and still has a lot of thick veins. The babies inside the eggs reacts quickly when I candle them with my Maglite, maybe its too bright or the beam is warm.

I want to ask if am I really hitting hatch date in 60th day, or will I experience prolonged incubation like 70 days, since the average room temperature last July is 89°F during morning/afternoon, and around 82°F during the night because we're on AC, but so far I think it doesn't reach my snake room.

Side note: Babies are active and reacting to light, so I have high hopes they will hatch around 60-66days.

What is your comment about my progress? Am i doing something else wrong? Should I tweak any variables etc?

Thanks .

[Stewart_Reptiles]

The babies inside the eggs reacts quickly when I candle them with my Maglite, maybe its too bright or the beam is warm.

Keep doing this so close to them pipping and you are gonna end up with twisted umbilicus.

[Bonn Cabrera]

Today is day 59 and I guess I should wait another 10-15 days.

The eggs are a bit softer than before, with slightly visible sagging of the shell. I don't want to do cutting since my incubation temperature is at the lower end of the spectrum like 85-89°F, and I believe the babies are not yet fully developed.

Do you experienced such prolonged incubation? I know BP eggs are hardy when it comes to temperature, as long as it is constant.
What is your idea about this?

[dr del]

If they still candle ok with healthy veins then yes I'd wait.

The incubation time is completely reliant on the temps provided so, unless there were any negative signs, it is simply a waiting game. Good luck.

[Bonn Cabrera]

I tried candling them and i saw veins, and I can slightly see their bodies and pattern, and no more egg yolk as per my verdict.

1 egg is already dimpled and the body of the baby snake can already be felt outside the egg.


Is it safe now to cut them open?

[dr del]

To be honest I'd wait until at least one of them starts slitting the egg on its own.

Once you cut the egg you have to take a lot of care of it until the baby emerges - you have just cut a hole for infections etc to get in and the egg white to dry out. It's not something you can do too early and just assume it will all be fine.

[Bonn Cabrera]

The babies hatched today and 2 brave hatchlings already out of their shell.

Can you help me id this two kickers? I'm sorry for low quality Photos. Peace

[Ax01]

looks like a normal (top) and Pastel (bottom). congrats!

[Bogertophis]

Congratulations! I'll let others I.D. them for you, I'm no good at that.

And for what's it's worth: I've raised other oviparous snakes in the past (not BPs) but I'm not a fan of cutting them open either...I did very little intervention.

[Bonn Cabrera]

This is the 2 remaining babies from the clutch,


1 Spider and 1 Pastel with a full crown (must be something else going on?) please help me ID this one.

The bumblebee of the clutch died for unknown reason, hatched fine, decided to sleep away forever.